‘It could be the best thing you ever did’ While the council is campaigning for more Muslim adopters in general, it is currently looking for adopters for eight children aged from three to nine, who include sibling groups. more details below Council’s energy co-op T.H.E. Community Power gives residents advice on how they can be energy efficient and save money. see below News News in brief Water photos DO you know of a secret place near the river or a magic spot along the canal where the light reflects on the water like nowhere else? If so, waterways charity Thames21 is inviting budding photographers to enter images for its photography competition with the chance to win a cash prize and to have their photo exhibited at the National Maritime Museum. Visit www.thames21.org.uk – the closing date is February 2. Food, fashion, art FOOD, fashion and art will collaborate under the same roof with the opening of a new concept store. Opening on Saturday, January 11, 504 Gallery Room –at 504 Roman Road, Bow –will feature emerging artists, fashion and interior designers, an art gallery and a tea room. Muslim couples urged to adopt campaign is successful. Adopting a child could be the best thing you ever did.” Hafiz Mowlana Shamsul Hoque, the chair of Council of Mosques for Tower Hamlets, said: “Mosque committee members and imams will inform all worshippers about the issue of Muslim looked-after children and ask the Muslim community to come forward to work together with Tower Hamlets Council to find a solution.” Savita de Sousa, from the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF), said: “Adoption should meet the emotional, developmental and spiritual needs of children, including needs relating to their religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background.” To find out more about adoption, visit www.fosteringand adoption.co.uk or contact the council’s advisers on 0800 279 9850 – Bengali-speaking advisers are available. THE JANUARY SALE 020 7998 9455 Wedding I Walima I Engagement I Mehndi I Cinipan I Birthday Corporate I Social I Charity I & Much More Regents Lake, Banqueting Venue, Bow Wharf, 221 Grove Road, London E3 5SN www.regentslake.co.uk | Info@regentslake.co.uk | Tel: 020 7998 9455 BY IAN READ MORE Muslim couples are being encouraged to become adoptive parents in a campaign launched this week. The campaign is being supported by prominent figures from the Muslim community and leading adoption organisation, the British Association for Adoption & Fostering. Backed by advertising on Bengali TV channels, it is aimed at demonstrating how adopting a child can positively transform lives. The council believes it is important that adopted children are placed with families of the same ethnic background but there are more Muslim children from Tower Hamlets waiting to be adopted than there are families available to adopt them. Depending on the reasons for a child needing to be adopted in the first place, it is often also in the interests of the child’s safety and wellbeing to move away from their immediate community, so the campaign is being rolled out nationally. Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “As a council we want to make sure that every child is given the best possible start in life. Sometimes this means a child needs to be found a new home and I want to make sure there are enough loving homes available to these children. “I urge people from the Muslim community who are interested to contact our adoption team to find out more.” Cabinet member for children, schools and families, Cllr Oliur Rahman, said: “The number of Muslim adopters coming forward is increasing but is still not enough. For the good of the borough’s children, I hope this Co-op could cut energy bills RESIDENTS who have signed up to the borough’s energy co-operative could save an average of £130 on their annual bills, after registering for an energy switching auction with some of the UK’s biggest companies. The council scheme helps residents ensure they are getting the best value out of their energy providers by joining up with the London-wide switching campaign, The Big London Energy Switch. Using an auction style system, energy companies are allowed to put forward their most competitive rates, bringing cheaper energy tariffs to anyone who has registered their interest. Following the last auction, which was held in November, residents could see an average saving of almost £130 per year on their energy bills if they decide to switch provider, with most people seeing savings of around £160. Residents who took part in the last auction have until Monday, January 13 to accept the offers made to them and switch providers. The council will be holding a number of information roadshows to give residents direct advice about understanding the energy offer that has been made to them, as well as helping newly interested residents sign up to the scheme. Go along between 10am and 2pm on Tuesday, January 7 at Watney Market Idea Store, January 8 at Idea Store Chrisp Street or January 9 at Idea Store Whitechapel. To register your interest now, with no obligation to switch your energy provider, call 0800 508 8364 or go to www.tower hamlets.gov.uk/energy Recycling your Christmas tree REAL Christmas trees can be recycled through the council’s recycling service. Residents in blocks of flats should contact their housing manager to find out about local arrangements. Those living in houses can leave their trees on the boundary of their property on their garden waste/food waste recycling day. Christmas tree collections will take place from January 6 to 24 – pots, soil and decorations should be removed first as these items cannot be composted. They can also be taken to the Reuse and Recycling centre at Yabsley Street, Isle of Dogs which is open Mon-Fri, 8am- 8pm; Sat and Sun, 9am-6pm. For more information call 7364 5004 or visit www.tower hamlets.gov.uk/recycling 6 – 12 JANUARY 2014 N E W S F R O M TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 5
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