Residents’ Association Engagement Network

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Residents’ Association Engagement Network

Join us to support the Council’s work for Covid-19 recovery

We are facilitating a series of monthly meetings with representatives from Residents’ Associations to help the Council understand the needs of local people during Covid-19 recovery. These meetings complement work with other local groups such as neighbourly and faith groups.

This is an opportunity for Residents’ Associations to become familiar with Council plans for Covid-19 recovery, share ideas with each other, and find out about latest government guidance and what this means for our residents and communities

Who can attend the meetings?

These meetings are open to representatives of:

  • Residents' Associations
  • Tenants' Associations
  • Leaseholder Associations
  • other similar residents' groups

You will be asked to indicate which Association or group you represent when you register for the meeting.

How do I join?

The next meeting will be hosted on Thursday 8 July, 5.30pm-6.30pm and will include brief updates on Council Covid-19 support work followed by an open Q&A and discussion.

Please contact the Community Engagement Team if you are interested in attending, by email at: [email protected], or call us on tel: 020 7598 4633 (9am-5pm). 
Future meeting dates will be updated on this webpage as they are confirmed.

Previous meetings

For copies of past meeting reports, which include meeting presentation slides and Q&A responses, please email the Community Engagement team at:

A brief summary of the topics discussed at each meeting are below.

21 April 2021, 5.30pm-6.30pm (updates and discussion on public health and 2021 Census)


The meeting opened with brief updates on public health, provided by Natalia Clifford (Deputy Director of Public Health) and the 2021 Census, provided by Stephanie Dodd (Office for National Statistics). The open Q&A included discussions around vaccines and the effectiveness of them against new Covid-19 strains, distribution of free rapid flow tests, concerns about lessons learned around broader health issues and disparities in the borough, and questions on the 2021 Census around how the data is used and what the Council are doing to encourage residents to complete the Census.

11 March 2021, 5.30pm-6.30pm (updates and discussion on public health)

 

The meeting opened with a brief update on public health, provided by Alastair Brown (Deputy Director of Public Health). The open Q&A included discussions around vaccines and the effectiveness of them against new Covid-19 strains, how to book a Covid-19 test, concerns about vaccine supply, and the 2021 Census.

11 February 2021, 5.30pm-6.30pm (updates and discussion on public health and Community Safety Wardens)


The meeting opened with brief updates on public health and the work of the Council’s Community Safety Wardens, provided by Alastair Brown (Deputy Director of Public Health) and Rachel Merriman (Senior Community Safety Officer). The open Q&A included discussions around vaccines and the effectiveness of them against new Covid-19 strains, access to the vaccine for housebound residents, how to book a Covid-19 test, concerns about vaccine supply, and the partnership between the Community Safety Wardens and the Police .

14 December 2020, 5.30pm-6.30pm (updates and discussion on public health and support for communities)

 The meeting opened with brief updates on public health and work to support communities during lock down, provided by Alastair Brown (Deputy Director of Public Health) and Annick Batimba (Community Participation Manager). The open Q&A included discussions around enforcement of masks in public places, park maintenance and social distancing as they become busy during lockdown, concerns about infrequent local mail deliveries, support for rough sleepers, and Council communications during Covid-19.

3 December 2020, 5.30pm-6.30pm (updates and discussion on public health, hardship support, and Health Champions programme)

The meeting opened with brief public health and hardship support updates, as well as an introduction to the Health Champions programme, provided by Alastair Brown (Deputy Director of Public Health), Paul Ellary (Head of Assessments), and Lorna Hughes (Bi-borough Health Champions Programme Manager). The open Q&A included discussions around the new Covid-19 vaccines undergoing regulatory review, their predicted distribution timelines, as well as trial runs of new Covid-19 testing and the work of Health Champions beyond Covid-19. 

Visit our page for information on the Health Champions programme.

29 October 2020, 5.30pm-6.30pm (updates and discussion on support for communities, Test & Trace programme, and Covid-19 support Hub)

The meeting opened with brief updates on Council work to support communities, Test & Trace, and the Covid-19 support Hub, provided by Sandjea Green (Head of Community Participation), Alastair Brown (Deputy Director of Public Health) and Sophie Ellis (Director of Customer Delivery). This was a slight change in format from previous meetings, based on feedback from RAs to allow for broader and more open dialogue rather than focussing on a single topic. The open Q&A included discussions about difficulties RAs’ residents have encountered while using the NHS Covid-19 App, the Council’s experiences in beginning Test & Trace work locally, Council preparedness as case rates rise, and ways the borough’s vulnerable residents need to be supported over the winter months.

17 September 2020, 5.30pm -7.00pm (Covid-19 Economic Impacts and Recovery)

We discussed the impacts of Covid-19 on local business and employment and ongoing recovery support, with a presentation from Graham Hart (Head of Economic Development). The presentation was followed by live Q&A with Graham Hart, Cllr Catherine Faulks (Lead Member for Economy, Employment and Innovation), and Ameeta Rowland (Director of Corporate Strategy). Questions centred on Council economic and hardship support, including support for high streets and vulnerable residents. Attendees also discussed the rising case rate in Kensington & Chelsea, and changes to national restrictions. It was agreed to plan a tentative, more informal meeting before the next monthly meeting, in case there was a need to discuss local lockdown plans.

30 July 2020, 5.30pm -7.00pm (Test & Trace Programme)

We discussed the Covid-19 Test & Trace programme, with a presentation from Natalia Clifford (Deputy Director of Public Health). Attendees discussed the information in small groups, followed by feedback and live Q&A with Natalia Clifford, Lesley Derry (Community Champions Programme Manager) and Carrie Hirst (Engagement & Partnership Manager, West London CCG). Conversations centred on ways RAs might use this information within their residents’ groups and ways RAs and the Council can help build trust in Test & Trace among local residents, as well as more specific questions RAs had about the Test & Trace programme.

2 July 2020, 5.30pm-6.30pm (Council’s Support Hub)

We discussed work to support some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents through the work of the Council’s support Hub. Sophie Ellis (Director of Customer Delivery) gave a presentation about the Hub, followed by discussions on the presentation and live Q&A. Please see the meeting report for more information.

The meeting concluded with discussion on how often meetings should take place and how they should run – participants requested monthly meetings with more time for dialogue and this will be arranged for the next meeting.

For more information on past meetings, including copies of meeting reports and Q&A, please email the Community Engagement team at: [email protected], or call us on tel: 020 7598 4633 (9am-5pm).


More ways to get involved

Visit the Change at the Council webpage to learn more about how you can be involved in decision-making. 

You can also:

Please also sign up for our Community Updates newsletter to learn about more events and engagement opportunities in the borough, by emailing the Community Engagement team at: [email protected].

Last updated: 2 July 2021