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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 - links to letting, buying and finding accomodation
Housing Associations - find your local housing association
Tower Hamlets Homes - for information about housing services
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
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.
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
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
Bettercaring - find care homes and nursing homes
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
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 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'
What's in London's Libraries - combined on-line collection of the libraries, museums and archives of London
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 offers a range of social and health related activities
Bettercaring - Find a local care home or nursing 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
Information for People Over 50
Lunch Club Directory
Meals on Wheels - lunchtime meals for vulnerable residents
Nursing and Care Homes - search for nursing, residential and care homes in the UK
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
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
