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Celebrate your neighbours and safer communities with Big Virtual Lunch this weekend

Richmond residents are encouraged to build on the community spirit of lockdown and join the Council in celebrating Neighbourhood Watch week with the UK’s Big Virtual Lunch this weekend.

The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual thanksgiving weekend for neighbours and communities. It has been adopted by Neighbourhood Watch to kick-off their annual Neighbourhood Watch Week, 7 to 13 June, to highlight the importance of strong neighbourly bonds to ensure the safety of neighbourhoods and communities.

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Business 'top-up' scheme launched - but funds are limited warns Councillor

Small businesses not eligible for the Government’s COVID-19 support grants or extended business rates relief, can now apply for a new ‘discretionary’ business fund.

However, the Council warns there may not be enough to go around. Businesses must be small, under 50 employees, and show they have seen a significant drop of income due to coronavirus restriction measures.

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Council buildings lit up in support for Black Lives Matter

On Tuesday night, York House in Twickenham was lit up in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

We stand together in solidarity against racial injustice.

Competition launched to design new park sculpture

Residents are invited to design a new sculpture for Kneller Gardens celebrating the rich heritage and culture of the park.

As part of the Friendly Parks for All programme, the Council would like to install a new sculpture that could be tactile and interactive, enabling all visitors to enjoy it.

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Local voluntary group VISOR receives the Queen’s Award for voluntary service

The Visually Impaired Society of Richmond (VISOR) has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The group of local volunteers offer support, advice and social activities to blind and partially‑sighted people in the borough.

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Council issues injunction order to remove travellers from Ham

Following the return of an unauthorised traveller camp on Riverside Drive in Ham, the Council has reviewed the position and will now commence enforcement proceedings to move them on.

The Council’s legal team, environmental services and public health colleagues have reviewed the guidance and concluded that it is proportionate and in the best health interests of all concerned to begin enforcement action.

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Local bike project launches appeal for second-hand bicycles

The Hampton Bike Project at Hampton Methodist Church has launched a public appeal for second-hand or unused bicycles of all conditions to be donated to help get refugees and asylum seekers cycling.

The Bike Project take donations of second-hand bikes and fix them up before donating them to local refugees and asylum seekers.

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Plea to avoid home bonfires and BBQs in our parks

Residents are being urged to avoid having bonfires in their gardens and not to light barbecues in borough parks.

Since lockdown began, the number of complaints the Council has received regarding smoke caused by bonfires has increased by 400%. The smoke can make symptoms worse for those battling coronavirus.

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Wellbeing during coronavirus

Healthwatch Richmond are running a survey to find out what people have found helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic and what help they still need to inform the way support is provided in the future.

Completely confidential, any information provided will be used anonymously to help support our local community. Take the short survey or call 0208 099 5335. 

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Kew Sews Scrubs creating scrubs and gowns for medical professionals

Kew Sews Scrubs are a group of volunteer pattern cutters and dressmakers who have been busy during the lockdown period putting their craft and skills to good use to create scrubs for medical professionals in local hospices and care homes. The group have also been upcycling old duvets and bed sheets to create face coverings. 

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Barnes Children's Literature Festival launches next week

The Barnes Children's Literature Festival will go ahead as a free virtual event from Tuesday 9 to Sunday 14 June.

Some of the best known names writing for children will be there, including Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell, author illustrator of Charlie and Lola, Lauren Child, and Gruffalo creator, Axel Scheffler. 

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Newly released poem and activity pack inspires reflection on life in lockdown

Illustrator Jenna Herman and Author Lucy Reynolds have released new poem inspired by the lockdown. The Pause is about a family of bears hunkering down in their cave.

The poem and activity pack have been sent to parents and primary schools as a free learning resource to inspire reflection on life in lockdown with all profits going to The Childhood Trust to support vulnerable families affected by COVID-19.

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Reconnect with nature ... on your phone!

Are you isolating at home and missing being outside with nature? Why not join a new project that aims to reconnect you with nature, on your phone.

Funded by Richmond Council, ‘Stroll, Chat and Cuppa’ has been very popular over the past few years. The weekly meet-ups bring together local people for walks around borough parks, enabling them to enjoy and learn more about nature.

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Footprints help improve safety for children going to school

Sets of colourful footprints have been installed outside schools to help children and their families keep social distancing while queueing during drop off and pick up.

So far four primary schools are in the process of receiving their footprints, with more due to be installed in the coming weeks.

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Competition for young artists now open with great prizes up for grabs

Young artists from across the borough are being encouraged to showcase their artwork as entries to this year’s #TheirOpenStudios20 competition are now open to school and college art and design students in years 7-13.

The Art House Open Studio Festival and Star Print Twickenham have launched the competition to showcase artwork from the 2019-20 academic year. Prizes up for grabs include art supplies, vouchers and window space at Star Print Twickenham.

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Council Leader tells Government: don’t axe or restrict free public transport for borough’s children and elderly

The Leader of Richmond Council has urged the Government to drop controversial plans to axe free travel for children on London public transport and for older residents before 9am, saying it will be a 'disaster' for families, older people and Council finances.

The emergency funding deal agreed between TFL and the Government included various conditions including stopping free travel on TFL controlled public transport for children and reducing free travel for the over-60s before 9am on weekdays.

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Council seek further legal and public health advice on return of travellers to Ham

Following the return of an unauthorised traveller camp on Riverside Drive in Ham, the Council’s legal team, environmental services and public health will review the latest Government guidance regarding responding to travellers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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Free virtual information event for EU citizens

A free online public information event for EU citizens living in Richmond borough will be held by Citizens Advice on June 16 at 2.30pm.

Attendees will be able to get updates on the latest Brexit developments and find out how to protect their future in the UK. The webinar is for any EU citizens who live, work or study in the borough.

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Strawberry Hill House launches letter writing campaign

Inspired by the prolific writings of Horace Walpole, Strawberry Hill House is inviting people to 'Write to Horace' about how their community has come together to make a difference during the COVID-19 crisis. 

To celebrate 10 years since the restoration of the 18th Century house, these letters will be displayed as part of an installation later this year.

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Scotty cycles 26 miles for Richmond AID

Scotty McLeod cycled 26 miles earlier this month to raise money for Richmond AID, a charity based in Teddington that supports disabled people to live independent lives.

Richmond AID helped Scotty when, in 2015, he was in a train accident that left him with a neurological condition called dysarthria, impairing his speech and mobility. He has aimed to raise £500 for Richmond AID and is currently just shy of that mark.

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