Community engagement

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As part of our community engagement, the Public Health Engagement and Development Officer hosts the following events on a weekly basis - partners are encouraged to invite residents who would benefit from the sessions to attend.

If you would like to attend any of the sessions to provide services contact Sonia Lard, details on the right.


Coffee Mornings at Hainault Forest Community Association

Every Tuesday, 10am – 12pm. Hainault Forest Community Centre (next to the library) 100 Manford Way, Ilford, Chigwell IG7 4DF

Created by Redbridge Council in Partnership with local charity Serving Humanity Foundation, Supported by Hainault Forest Community Association and local businesses.

The café @HFCA is designed to encourage conversation, support local people to connect, and reduce loneliness and social isolation.

Citizens Advice Redbridge attend weekly supporting resident with advice on various matters including housing, benefits, employment and debt including free appointments and referrals.

Redbridge CVS are also attending weekly including other community support services.



The Café at Loxford

Every Sunday, 11.30am - 3pm. Loxford Polyclinic,

The Public Health team at Redbridge Council, in partnership with local charity Serving Humanity Foundation, has launched a new initiative at Loxford Polyclinic.

‘The Café @Loxford’ has been created to provide residents experiencing social isolation a place to come to socialise, connect, and chat with other members of the local community. The sessions will also offer residents the chance to talk to council officers about different health and wellbeing matters as well as any cost of living concerns.

Free food and refreshments are provided throughout the day as well as arts and crafts activities, free legal advice and benefits support. If you or anyone you know could benefit from attending The Café, then please do visit us or share details of the session.



Perfect Mix

Every Monday, 12pm - 3pm. Cranbrook Children’s Centre (EYPad), The Drive, Ilford IG1 3PS.

The “Perfect Mix” initiative has been organised by Redbridge Public Health team with support from local charity Serving Humanity Foundation.

This is a free weekly community cooking and socialising initiative connecting refugees and asylum seekers with residents through cooking.

This is an opportunity for Redbridge residents to meet, prepare and eat lunch together with refugees and asylum seekers who have been placed in the borough in temporary accommodation.

It is also a great opportunity to make new friends, support families suffering from hardship and provide access to healthy nutritious meals.

If you are in contact with the asylum seekers or refugee community who would benefit from our initiative please contact sonia.lard@redbridge.gov.uk to book a space.

Feedback from residents who attend Perfect Mix:

We were very happy to see the relaxing and atmosphere and feel proud to see that I'm welcomed everyday regardless of race and religion. It's lovely to see that age and culture bonding together.

How kind strangers can be, how it's good to try and be myself, hopefully others out of isolation, met some lovely people.

I have learn that I'm not alone I don’t want to struggling alone, I have got staff and volunteers who support me in any way they can.




As part of our community engagement, the Public Health Engagement and Development Officer hosts the following events on a weekly basis - partners are encouraged to invite residents who would benefit from the sessions to attend.

If you would like to attend any of the sessions to provide services contact Sonia Lard, details on the right.


Coffee Mornings at Hainault Forest Community Association

Every Tuesday, 10am – 12pm. Hainault Forest Community Centre (next to the library) 100 Manford Way, Ilford, Chigwell IG7 4DF

Created by Redbridge Council in Partnership with local charity Serving Humanity Foundation, Supported by Hainault Forest Community Association and local businesses.

The café @HFCA is designed to encourage conversation, support local people to connect, and reduce loneliness and social isolation.

Citizens Advice Redbridge attend weekly supporting resident with advice on various matters including housing, benefits, employment and debt including free appointments and referrals.

Redbridge CVS are also attending weekly including other community support services.



The Café at Loxford

Every Sunday, 11.30am - 3pm. Loxford Polyclinic,

The Public Health team at Redbridge Council, in partnership with local charity Serving Humanity Foundation, has launched a new initiative at Loxford Polyclinic.

‘The Café @Loxford’ has been created to provide residents experiencing social isolation a place to come to socialise, connect, and chat with other members of the local community. The sessions will also offer residents the chance to talk to council officers about different health and wellbeing matters as well as any cost of living concerns.

Free food and refreshments are provided throughout the day as well as arts and crafts activities, free legal advice and benefits support. If you or anyone you know could benefit from attending The Café, then please do visit us or share details of the session.



Perfect Mix

Every Monday, 12pm - 3pm. Cranbrook Children’s Centre (EYPad), The Drive, Ilford IG1 3PS.

The “Perfect Mix” initiative has been organised by Redbridge Public Health team with support from local charity Serving Humanity Foundation.

This is a free weekly community cooking and socialising initiative connecting refugees and asylum seekers with residents through cooking.

This is an opportunity for Redbridge residents to meet, prepare and eat lunch together with refugees and asylum seekers who have been placed in the borough in temporary accommodation.

It is also a great opportunity to make new friends, support families suffering from hardship and provide access to healthy nutritious meals.

If you are in contact with the asylum seekers or refugee community who would benefit from our initiative please contact sonia.lard@redbridge.gov.uk to book a space.

Feedback from residents who attend Perfect Mix:

We were very happy to see the relaxing and atmosphere and feel proud to see that I'm welcomed everyday regardless of race and religion. It's lovely to see that age and culture bonding together.

How kind strangers can be, how it's good to try and be myself, hopefully others out of isolation, met some lovely people.

I have learn that I'm not alone I don’t want to struggling alone, I have got staff and volunteers who support me in any way they can.



  • 1Eid Festival

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    Redbridge is home to over 600 people that have been placed in hotels by the UK Home Office. The majority of the residents in temporary accommodation were observing the holy month of Ramadan while facing hardship and uncertainty.

    Redbridge Council supported the Serving Humanity Foundation in fundraising to cover the cost of a unique offer tailored for refugee families and asylum seekers. The offer allowed families to attend the annual 1EID event held at a local park in Redbridge, inviting communities to come together and celebrate the end of the holy month.

    The families had a wonderful experience, including one child who had never been to a fair before. At the event the Public Health team supported with our ‘Healthy Redbridge’ bus which provided blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checks to all attendees.




Page last updated: 06 Sep 2023, 08:34 PM