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Local and Community Information
You can find information about your local community at your Idea Store or library, including:
• Directories and telephone books
• Street atlases
• Council and GLA minutes and agendas.
• Local newspapers
Find answers to your local questions with our FAQs.
Need more information? Visit our Information Gateway or Contact Us.
Local Information Frequently Asked Questions
Council Tax Benefit - how to claim Council Tax Benefit
Electoral Register - adding your name to the register of electors
Housing Associations - find your local housing association
Tower Hamlets Homes - for information about housing services
Tower Hamlets Housing - information, advice and support
Advice and Information
Advice - includes general advice services, consumer and legal
Anti-social Behaviour - reporting anti-social behaviour
Birth Registering - what to do and where to register
Data Protection - how to access information held about you by the Council
Debt and Money Advice - free advice from local community agencies
Domestic Violence - support and information
Freedom of Information - access to official information
Hate Crime - what is hate crime and how to report it
Legal Advice Centre - free written legal advice
Marriage Arrangement and Ceremonies - marriage ceremonies and civil partnerships
Neighbourhood Crime - find out what you can expect from the police and others when it comes to crime and anti-social behaviour
Police - find your local Police
Victim Support - support and information for victims of crime in Tower Hamlets
Women Ahead - support, advice and advocacy for women who are in contact with the Criminal Justice System or who are at risk of offending. Contact 020 7375 0599
Jagonari WERC, 182 - 185 Whitechapel Road, E1 1DW
Benefits and Financial Support
Benefits - find out about benefits and grants you may be entitled to
Free School Meals - how to claim free school meals
Money, Tax and Benefits - benefits, pensions, tax and managing money advice and support
School Clothing Grants & Vouchers - how to qualify and apply for school clothing grants
Business
Business Rates - how business rates are calculated
Business Support and Advice - links to free business advice and information
Business Support and Advice Tower Hamlets - funding, health and safety and trading standards
Copyright - information about copyright, trade marks, patents and designs
Licences and Street Trading
Children and Young People
Childcare Information Service - find childcare in Tower Hamlets
Child Protection - Child Protection Plan
Family Information Service - information and advice on childcare as well as general information on a wide range of services for children, young people, parents and families.
Family Services Directory - search the directory for services and activities and events.
Fostering, Adoption and Looked After Children
Journeys Children's Bereavement and Loss Service
Learning Hub - learning opportunities for 14 - 19 year olds in Tower Hamlets
Nursery and Childcare Funding - nursery education funding, childcare vouchers and 'Care to Learn'
Ofstead Inspection Reports - childcare, schools, colleges
Pre-schools - Applying to Nursery School
School Truancy - improving school attendance
Schools in Tower Hamlets - A - Z list of schools
Starting School in Tower Hamlets - starting school guide as a PDF
Step Forward - local information, advice and counselling service for 11 - 25 year olds
Young Carers - support and advice
Young People Information & Advice - Connexions
Council Services
Council Committee Agendas and Minutes - search for Council agendas and minutes
Council Telephone Hotlines - find the service you need
Disability Services - care, support and assistance to people with physical or learning disabilities
One Stop Shops - face to face contact for accessing all Council services
Tower Hamlets Register Office
Statistics - find detailed statistics for your neighbourhood
Tower Hamlets Partnership - for news and information including the Community Plan
This Borough - access to a wide range of information and statistics
Translation and Interpreting Services - for social care service users
Elected Representatives
Councillors - A - Z list, search by surname, Party or committee
London Assembly
Mayor of Tower Hamlets
MPs and MEPs - Tower Hamlets Members of Parliament
Bethnal Green & Bow Constituency
Rushanara Ali (Labour)
349 Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9RA
Surgery attendance is by appointment . Call 020 7729 6682 to book an appointment.
Email: rushanara@rushanaraali.org
Poplar & Limehouse Constituency
Jim Fitzpatrick MP (Labour)
Tel: 020 7219 5085
Email: fitzpatrickj@parliament.uk
Surgery: Every second & fourth Friday of the month 3.30-6pm at Trussler Hall, Grundy Street, E14 6DR and the first Friday of the month at Community Links, Barking Road, Canning Town. Call 020 7536 0562 for an appointment.
Employment, Job & Careers Advice
Careers and Employment Advice and Information
Council Job Vacancies - search for vacancies at Tower Hamlets Council
Income Tax Calculator
Jobcentre Plus - 13 Dod Street E14 7EP, Tel: 020 7510 1333
Jobcentre Plus - 60 Commercial Road, E1 1LP, Tel: 020 7301 8211, 020 7301 8276
Jobseekers Allowance - who is entitled and how to claim
National Insurance Registration - how to apply for a National Insurance number
Skillsmatch - job brokerage service for employers and jobseekers in Tower Hamlets
Tax Office - find your local tax Office
Environment
Environmental Health - services include food safety, flytipping and pest control
Graffiti - how to report graffiti
Local Maps - including conservation areas, listed buildings, permit parking bays and schools
Noise Pollution - how to report a noise nuisance
Planning Enquiries - how to make a planning application and current planning applications made
Recycling - find your local recycling centre
Recycling, Rubbish and Waste - includes reporting missed recycling and rubbish collections
Street Lighting - how to report a problem
Street Litter - litter enforcement
Tower Hamlets Safer Neighbourhoods - Safer Neighbourhoods team contact details
Wards and LAPS - find out about the ward you live in
Health
Local Health Services - GPs, Emergencies, Hospitals, Dentists, Pharmacies and Opticians
Chiropody - find your local chiropodist or podiatrist
Community Health Profiles for a snapshot of the health of people in your local area
Family Planning Association - find a local clinic
Health and Medical Advice - Tower Hamlets has a wide range of health and medical services that offer support and advice to local residents
Health and Social Care - information on the wide range of health and social services Tower Hamlets provides for its residents
HIV / AIDS Support - information about HIV / AIDS support in Tower Hamlets
Mental Health and Well-Being Services Directory - local mental health services
Social Services Out of Hours - out of hours social services support
Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust - search for local health services
Walk-in-Centres - find your local NHS Walk-in-Centre
Immigration and Nationality
Asylum Seekers Nationality Checking Service
Citizenship Ceremonies
ESOL courses
Life in the UK Test Centres - find your local Test Centre
Nationality Checking Service - to help you ensure that your citizenship form is completed correctly
Online Citizenship Course 'Life in Great Britain' available in your local Idea Store or library.
Passports and Immigration - how to obtain passports and visas
Libraries & Archives
Ask a Librarian - 24 hour free information service
Dewey Classification - subjects and their dewey classification numbers
Idea Stores & Libraries Contact Us - for your comments, suggestions and information enquiries
Local History and Archives - Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives contact details
London Libraries - public, academic and specialist libraries
Online Reference Library - free access to 'Ancestry', business and legal information, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, 'Funder Finder' and 'Who's Who'
News, Newspapers & Magazines
A- Z list of Newspapers and Magazines in Idea Stores & Libraries
BBC London Local - Tower Hamlets news stories
East End Life - Tower Hamlets' free local newspaper
List of newspapers held in London Libraries
Local Studies Newspapers, Magazines and Newsletters List
News and Newspapers - Information Gateway
Older People
Activities for Older People - LinkAge Plus offers a range of social and health related activities
Bettercaring - Find a local care home or nursing home
Care Quality Commission - find a local care home
Community Transport - mobility buses, Dial-a-Ride and Shopmobility
Direct Payments - receive cash payments to buy and manage your own care
Home Care - a range of services provided in your own home
Housing Care - housing information for older people
Information for People Over 50
Lunch Club Directory
Meals on Wheels - lunchtime meals for vulnerable residents
Sports, Leisure and Recreation
Arts and Entertainment Guide for local events
Clubbz - find sport and hobby clubs, teams and societies in your area
Cycling - local cycle lanes and routes
Course Guide - choose from over 800 lifelong learning courses
Halls for Hire - over 40 halls for hire
Lea River Park - discover what's happening in and around the Lea River Park
Leisure Centres in Tower Hamlets
Local History Walks - led and self-guided local history walks
Sport - find out where to play sport in Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets Football Handbook [PDF format] - for local clubs and facilities
Visit East London - out and about in your local area
What's On - Idea Stores & Libraries
What's On - Tower Hamlets
Transport
Barclays Cycle Superhighway - cycle routes and maps
Congestion Charge - Congestion Charge information and zone map
Freedom Passes - freedom passes, motability scheme and taxicard scheme
Parking Permit Schemes - applying for resident's and business permits
Travel Information - local bus maps and timetables, travel news and updates
Walkit - London walking directions and maps
Utilities and Other Services
Electrical and Gas Keys - find your local Paypoint Agent for gas and electricity keys and gas cards
Fire Service - London Fire Brigade fire safety and news
Local Life - find a local business, club, group or organisation
Places of Worship - faith directory from the Tower Hamlets Inter Faith Forum
Post Office - find your local Post Office
Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets - find the right volunteering opportunity for you
Your London - the official online guide to London's public and community services
