This May Half Term (Monday 28 May to Sunday 3 June) is the perfect time to get involved with some of the local youth sports programmes on offer at Kensington Leisure Centre, Silchester Rd, London W10 6EX.

Want to try your hand at basketball? The London School of Basketball are partnering with the centre to offer local children aged five to 11 years the chance to shoot some hoops on a free basketball camp, held on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 May (2pm to 4pm).

See yourself more as a budding tennis pro?  “Give It Your Max” are offering free mini-tennis sessions during the half term. Together with the leisure centre, they’re encouraging local children of all abilities to pick up a racket and get active through one of the nation’s favourite sports. Sessions will take place on Thursday 31 May and Friday June 1 from 1pm to 3pm for children aged five to 10 years.

There is also free swimming for under eights on offer for the whole half term, simply turn up and join in any ‘Swim for All’ or ‘Swim for under-fives and adults’ sessions from Saturday 26 May to Sunday 3 June.

To get involved with the basketball or tennis camps (or both), contact Phil on phil.kemp@gll.org with your child’s name, date of birth and parent/guardian contact number. No need to book for swimming sessions but please take some time to read through the leisure centre’s swim safety rules that can be found online at   www.better.org.uk/swimsafetyrules .

Please note that swimming lessons and other instructor-led sessions are not included.
 

Tech jobs for North Kensington

Get Into Tech is an exciting new project to get local people aged 16 plus into tech jobs. With support from SKY, local community organisations and businesses, The Kensington & Chelsea Foundation is launching Get Into Tech : North Kensington. They are offering a 15-week course beginning on Monday 3 September, it’s free and exclusively for people who live in North Kensington.

To encourage people to join the course and to get to know more about the great jobs available in tech, they are holding weekly sessions leading up to the course which will take place every Monday from 14 May. All you need to do is bring a laptop if you’ve got one, if not, The Kensington & Chelsea Foundation will provide one for you.

At these weekly meetings, you will get to grips with the basics of technology and be able to talk to some of their tech partners about employment. Those who want to apply for the course can do so in July. There will be 16 places available. The course itself will take place in North Kensington as well as at the SKY campus in Osterley.

Monday Meeting Details:
Launch date: Monday 14 May (then every Monday after)
Time: 6.30 to 8pm
Location: Clement James Centre, 95 Sirdar Road, W11 4EQ
 

 
Support during Mental Health Awareness Week  

The Mental Health Foundation is raising awareness of mental health, wellbeing and particularly stress as part of their Mental Health Awareness Week, taking place from Monday 14 May to Sunday 20 May. If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally, isn’t getting the right support or you’ve noticed they might need a helping hand, support is available.

The NHS runs a free helpline, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is confidential and can be reached on 0800 0234 650. Just let the person on the end of the line know that you’ve been affected by Grenfell and they will ensure you are referred quickly to the right place.

You can also contact the Samaritans for around the clock emotional support. Call 116 123 any time
and from any phone for free and in confidence. You can access mental health support, advice, a cup of tea and a chat, and a quiet space to reflect, pray and relax at The Curve Community Centre, 10 Bard Road W10, 10am to 8pm on weekdays and 11am to 6pm on weekends.
 

DIY SOS to build new hub for North Kensington community  

Work has begun on a new community centre and boxing club in North Kensington courtesy of the BBC construction show DIY SOS. The Dale Youth Boxing Club, which occupied a space on the first floor of Grenfell Tower and produced world class British boxers, is to find a home in a new building underneath
the Westway.

Presenter of the show Nick Knowles said: “It is the biggest and morally most important project we have done in a long time.”
 
As well as the boxing club, the new building will include a community centre and a ‘social street’ that will be used for a range of activities and gatherings. The space is promised to be accessible to all in North Kensington, offering a new hub for the community.
 

Housing Update
 
Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk

We have committed £235 million to finding new homes for residents and have now secured 307 properties for families. We invite households to choose which properties they want to view from all those available on our Home Connections website.
 
Households currently living in temporary accommodation provided by the Council or our partners, also have the option to make these properties their permanent home if they wish.
 
For those households living in hotels and who wish to move into a temporary home, we will help to find private rented accommodation. We will help with furniture, bedding, crockery and cutlery, white goods and utilities.

• 210 Total number of households 
• 72 Households in emergency accommodation 
• 138 Households moved into accommodation - Temporary 64 - Permanent 74
• 98 Accommodation offers accepted - Temporary 5 - Permanent 93

These numbers are accurate as of 10 May 2018.
 

 
Activities Programme at The Curve

Monday 14 May
5pm–7pm
Home work Club ages 11–18 (drop in)

5.30pm–7.30pm
Pre-ESOL English

Tuesday 15 May
9.30am–11.30am or 12.25pm–2.30pm 
ESOL – English language classes (please book by emailing: sakinah.touzani@westway.org)

10am-3pm
Fouzia’s Sewing Club: sew, stitch and knit

10.30am–12.30pm
Helping children deal with loss (please book)

10.30am–12.30pm
Job search workshops (drop-in) 

Wednesday 16 May
9.30am–10.30am
MEND mini -healthy lifestyles programme for families (drop in)

10am–12pm
World Coffee Morning

10.30am–12.30pm
Job search workshops

10am–1pm
Felt making with Heather: Introduction to Nuno felting (please email flourish@acava.org to book)

1pm–3.30pm
Adults book break group (open to anyone)

2pm–4pm
Drug and alcohol prevention (drop-in)

5pm–7pm
Homework Club, ages five-11 (drop-in)

6pm–7pm
Mixed age (adults and kids) Shared Reading Group (for both groups, drop in, and the groups are open to all reading abilities)

Thursday 17 May
10.30am–11.30am
Baby Massage (please email semira.hassen@rbkc.gov.uk to book)

10.30am–12.30pm
Helping children deal with loss (please book)

12.30pm-2.30pm
Mums and bumps session (please email semira.hassen@rbkc.gov.uk to book)

1pm–3pm
ICT skills and pre-employment support (drop-in)

4pm–4.45pm
Healthy snack time for kids (please book)

4pm–6pm
Young artists (ages five-11): for keen young artists looking to learn and develop their skills

Friday 18 May
10.30am–11.30am
Meditation and relaxation for all (drop-in)

The Curve Community Centre opening hours are 10am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 6pm on weekends.

Some sessions need to be booked in advance to secure your place, so email thecurve@rbkc.gov.uk and they will confirm your reservation by return. 

The Crèche’s opening hours are:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm.
No crèche on Thursdays.

The Crèche is for parents attending appointments or courses at the Curve.Other Curve users are also able to use the crèche space when attending an event or activities. To book, please email: thecurve@rbkc.gov.uk

For a full list of events visit grenfellsupport.org.uk/thecurve/events
 

 
Reminder

Royal Mail operating hours at The Curve have changed to 10.30am to 2pm. Days remain Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Home Office Immigration and Visa service opening hours are  2pm to 8pm on Thursday.
 
Care for Grenfell
 
The Care for Grenfell team helps anyone who has been affected by the Grenfell tragedy and offers a single point of access to all Council services and support.
 
This phone line is open from 8am to 8pm and also provides an out-of-hours service which can be reached on the same number.
 
Call:  020 7745 6414
Email:  careforgrenfell@rbkc.gov.uk
 

 

Support services on offer

Anyone who would like to speak to the police in relation to the investigation into the fire is asked to contact the Met Police on  0800 032 4539.
 
Important contacts
 
Cruse Bereavement Care
Call the Freephone helpline on  0808 808 1677 or  email helpline@cruse.org.uk .
The helpline is open  Monday–Friday from  9.30am-5pm. Extended hours  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings , until 8pm. 

Replacement UK passports, visas or immigration queries
Call our advice line on 0300 303 2832. The line is open 24 hours.
 
Air quality and smoke exposure
If you have concerns about any symptoms, please see your doctor or call NHS 111.
 
Housing support
If you have any questions about housing or want to find out who your housing officer is please call
0800 137 111 or  020 7361 3008.
 
Victim support
Call 0808 1689 111 for practical and emotional support, or visit victimsupport.org.uk. The line is open 24 hours a day.

The Grenfell Muslim Response Unit also offers additional support. Find out more by emailing info@gmru.co.uk
 
You can also get physical and mental support at The Curve Community Centre. Find out more by calling 07712 231 133.
 
Hestia, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, and the Drug and Alcohol Serviceare based overnight at the Notting Hill Methodist Church, Lancaster Road, from  10pm to 8am.
 
Pop in for a chat and support.