Grenfell Tower Fire Response Team update 4

Grenfell tenants who sub-let homes will not be prosecuted

The government has confirmed that anyone who was unlawfully sub-letting their home will not be charged or prosecuted. The joint announcement came from the Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, the Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders.

We are asking tenants of Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk who were sub-letting their homes to come forward with information on anyone who might have been staying in their flats on the night of the fire. This will help us gain a more complete picture of who was in the building that night, and help identify anyone still missing.

The Attorney General has confirmed that the priority is to identify any loved ones still missing, saying: ‘Every piece of information will help the authorities accurately identify who was in the flats at the time of the fire. I hope this statement provides some much needed clarity to residents and the local community, and encourages anyone with information to come forward.’

Anyone wishing to provide information on someone who may have been in the building on the night of the fire should call 0800 032 4539.

 

 

Housing assessments update

We will be making offers on housing by this Wednesday 5 July, following initial housing assessments which take into account physical needs, access to education, space needed and location. The focus is on finding good quality temporary homes in the local area for people from Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk. 
We understand that it will take time for people to consider the offers being made because of what they have been through and the complex nature of their needs. A total of 158 housing needs assessments have taken place leading to 126 families being matched. Some of these will be in the 68 new build flats as part of the Kensington Road development which will be ready by the end of July 2017.
More information is available from the housing line: 020 7361 3008.

We are making every effort to ensure that people have the right psychological and community support around them, and we would like to provide everyone affected by the fire with the following reassurances.

  • Everyone whose home was destroyed in the fire will be offered a temporary home in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea or a neighbouring borough.
  • Accepting an offer of temporary accommodation will in no way affect your rights to permanent social housing.
  • No one will be made intentionally homeless. We will make sure that the temporary home offered is right for each individual family.
  • Accepting an offer of a temporary home will not affect your benefits in any way.

Anyone who needs help who has yet to come forward should do so by calling 0800 458 9472 or by visiting the Westway Sports & Fitness Centre between 10am and 8pm at 1 Crowthorne Road, W10 6RP.

 

 

Sajid Javid urges residents to come forwardPeople who may have been illegally subletting flats in Grenfell Tower have been asked by the Government to come forward to help emergency services establish the final number of people who died.

Mr Javid, speaking in the House of Commons today, said: “There may have been people living in flats that were illegally sublet who have no idea about the true status of their tenancy.

“Their families want to know if they perished in the fire.

“These are their sons, their daughters, their brothers, their sisters. They need closure and it’s the least that they deserve.

“But that can’t happen unless we have the information we need, so we are urging anyone with that information to come forward and to do so as quickly as they can.”

 

 

Key Workers providing around the clock support

There are 236 Key Workers supporting people affected by the fire providing a range of around the clock practical and emotional support.

This support ranges from help to obtain documents such as passports and driving licences, through to psychological support, as well as housing, education and health assistance. Key workers are also currently providing support in the following areas:

  • Transporting children from hotels to schools.
  • Giving people a sense of a timeline as to when they will be rehoused as not knowing this can cause unnecessary stress.
  • Replacing key health related items such as new braces, walking sticks and glasses.
  • Replacing laptops and mobile phones
  • They also support bereaved relatives to attend funerals.

If you or your organisation would like to make a request for a Key Worker please contact keyworkers@westminster.gov.uk

 

 

No rent payments until January 2018 for residents of Barandon Walk, Testerton Walk and Hurstway

Kensington and Chelsea Council has stated that residents from Barandon Walk, Testerton Walk and Hurstway will not have to pay rent from the date of the fire until the end of January 2018 when the situation will be reviewed. The council has confirmed any resident who has had a direct debit or standing order payment for their rent taken since the fire will have this money refunded.

 

 

Updated contact details for travel support

There is an updated  point of contact for anyone needing assistance with rail travel between now and Monday 24 July. The phone number is 020 7841 8098 but people should continue using the existing address peter.lovegrove@raildeliverygroup.comThe phone and email address is monitored during office hours, Monday to Friday.

 

 

Childcare help is available

Childcare support is available for families. Spaces for children of all age groups have been made available at the following children’s centres:

  • Clare Gardens, Westbourne Park Road, W11 1EG
  • St Quintin, 90 Highlever Road, W10 6PN
  • Cheyne, 10 Thorndike Close, SW10 OST

A Stay and Play service is also in place at the Westway Sports & Fitness Centre. This is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm and at weekends from 10am to 4pm. The Westway Sports & Fitness Centre can be contacted on 0333 005 0442.

Grenfell Nursery reopened last week in the Ilys Booker site on Clarendon Road.  This site is smaller and can now only take 20 children per day. The council is looking for larger premises for the nursery to reopen at full capacity from September.

The Grenfell Nursery staff team will also be opening a Stay and Play at the Lancaster West Resource Centre shortly.

For help with childcare and supporting families through this difficult time, please contact: Busola.kehinde@rbkc.gov.uk or debra.cole@rbkc.gov.uk

Further information is also available by contacting the Family Information Service on 0845 313 3933.

 

 

Health update

Public Health England (PHE) is providing specialist advice on health following the Grenfell Tower fire. This includes health advice on air quality, water quality and the handling of any waste materials and debris.

Air quality
PHE is constantly monitoring air quality and the latest readings show the air pollution level near the site continues to be low.

Water quality
Drinking water quality has not been impacted by the fire and tap water is safe to drink and use as normal.

Waste materials and debris
If you have waste material or debris from the fire at your property, please contact the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council on 020 7361 3001 to make arrangements for them to collect it.

Air purifiers
Air purifiers, which are generally used to reduce allergens from pets from the air, are not recommended for use in this situation because larger particles produced during the fire will have already settled and not be present in the air. Larger dust particles settle quickly onto surfaces and are best removed with a damp cloth.

More advice from Public Health England can be found on their website.

 

 

DVLA support available

Staff from the DVLA will be available all week at the Westway Sports & Fitness Centre to help people with driving licences and other vehicle documents. Assistance is also available by calling 0300 083 0103.

 

 

Westway assistance centre

Anyone affected by the Grenfell Tower fire who requires specialist advice and support should continue to attend the Westway Assistance Centre.

The address of the centre is Westway Sports Centre, 1 Crowthorne Road, W10 6RP.
 Dedicated staff from the Westway Centre and Red Cross are on hand to provide expert support on housing, accommodation and transport and can give help and guidance on a range of services.
 For emotional support, please call the Red Cross helpline on 0800 458 9472. The line is currently open 24 hours a day but we are looking at reviewing these hours. If you have any feedback, please email support@grenfellresponse.org
. People affected by the fire can still get clothing and supplies from the donations that are being maintained at the Westway Centre.

Anyone who needs assistance travelling to or from the centre should speak to their keyworker.

 

 

Important information on funding

There are a range of funds available to those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire:

Department for Work and Pensions
The government has a £5 million Grenfell Tower Residents’ Discretionary Fund, including guaranteed payments of £5,000 into bank accounts for each household and £500 cash for individuals who have permanently lost their home to help meet immediate needs, such as food and clothing.

How to apply: please visit the Assistance Centre at the Westway Sports & Fitness Centre, 1 Crowthorne Road, W10 6RP where help is available to access this funding.

Receiving this funding will not affect any existing benefits that are being claimed by individuals.

John Lyons Charity
Funding is available for groups or organisations working with children, young people and families. This is available to registered charities, CICs, non-profit community groups, schools and local faith groups.

How to apply: Organisations should complete an application form online at www.jlc.london/news/grenfell-tower-disaster and submit to info@jlc.london

London Funders
A £1 million fund is available for smaller charities and local organisations that stepped in to help in the immediate response to the disaster. This fund will help reimburse organisations and to make sure their ongoing work is supported.

How to apply: Please download an application form from www.londonfunders.org.uk/about/greenfell-fire-response

London Funders will also be in the Westway Sports & Fitness Centre on Thursdays to help fill in forms.

London Emergencies Trust
The next of kin for each of those who tragically lost their lives in the Grenfell fire are to receive an initial £20,000. Those injured and hospitalised for seven days will receive an initial £10,000, and those injured and hospitalised for six hours or more an initial £3,500. London Emergencies Trust is distributing these funds on behalf of the British Red Cross, K&C Foundation and the London Community Fund / Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund.

How to apply: Family Liaison Officers (FLO) who are attached to families affected will pass on and help fill in an application form. They can also call the British Red Cross helpline on 0800 458 9472.

Rugby Portobello Trust
Financial support for residents of Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk of up to £10,000 to help as they move to new homes.

How to apply: apply through the Rugby Portobello Trust by calling 020 7229 2928 or email newhomesteam@rpt.org.uk

 

 

Getting help with funeral costs

Those arranging a funeral for a family member, or loved one, can receive £10,000 to help with the costs. If more than one funeral needs to be arranged, more than one payment can be received.

People should speak to their Family Liaison Officer or Local Authority Key Worker for more information and help through the process. Simple details are needed to formally confirm next of kin and who will be responsible for arranging the funeral. A list of local funeral directors can be found on the National Association of Funeral Directors website.

 

 

NHS and health

NHS organisations across West London have set up physical and mental health support for anyone worried about their health since the Grenfell Tower fire at the Westway Assistance Centre at Westway Sports & Fitness Centre.

Visit a GP

The first port of call for any physical, emotional or mental health needs is a GP. If someone doesn’t  have a GP, it’s easy to register and local practices can be found via the NHS Choices website. Those without internet access can call 020 8962 4600, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
 All practices are open and accepting patients and the treatment and care of Grenfell residents is a priority. GP surgeries won’t refuse registration or appointments if someone doesn’t have proof of address or personal identification at hand. This also applies to those who are an asylum seeker, refugee, a homeless patient or an overseas visitor, whether lawfully in the UK or not.

The local NHS support line

If someone feels they need support before or after seeing a GP, they can call the ‘Single Point of Access’ line which is open 24 hours a day on 0800 0234 650. The team is there to help as quickly as they can – they will answer the call in under a minute and if anyone requests a call back, they will call you back within 30 minutes.

Support in the community

There is also a team working in the community to provide physical and mental health support, who can help with walk-in appointments at the Westway Sports & Fitness Centre, or visiting someone in a more suitable location. To find out more, people just need to call 07712 231 133.

 

 

Visa and passport support

If residents have had passports and immigration documents destroyed as a result of the Grenfell Tower Fire, then they can talk to UK Visa and Immigration and Her Majesty’s Passport Office teams face to face or over the phone.

Specialist advisors are available to help at the Westway Sports & Fitness Centre, Crowthorne Road, W10 6RP from 10am to 8pm.

Residents can also call the 24 hour advice line on 0300 222 0000 to arrange for a call back by a member of the visa and passport team.

 

 

Cars and parking updates

The last thing anybody should expect after a traumatic incident is a parking ticket. Councils across London, together with Transport for London are working with parking attendants to identify and cancel any outstanding parking tickets for people who lived in Grenfell Tower.

No further action will be taken against any unpaid ticket received before the fire.

Anyone who has been moved into temporary housing and is worried about parking tickets received after the fire, or would like to apply for a parking permit, should contact the council area where they are now living.

Resident access to their cars in the underground garages at Grenfell has been suspended until after Wednesday, pending works on boilers.

 

 

Housing update

Good progress is being made to ensure that people forced to leave their homes due to the Grenfell Tower fire are offered suitable accommodation within a target of three weeks.

Currently 150 hotel placements have been made for people living in Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk. The priority is to get everyone who has lost their home rehoused and work is now taking place to identify longer-term accommodation.

A total of 158 housing needs assessments have taken place leading to 126 offers of accommodation being made. Social workers have been assigned to help families with issues ranging from passports and driving licences through to psychological support.

It’s also important to make clear a point about temporary and long term accommodation. Temporary accommodation can become long term accommodation if the family or individuals want to keep living there. We will always discuss your housing needs with you before any decision is made. The important thing to remember is nobody will ever be forced to live anywhere.

 

 

Support pack for key workers

Guidance is available online for key workers supporting affected families as a result of the Grenfell Tower Fire with information on contacts and regular updates.

Information can be found here.

 

 

Work underway to replace boiler

We expect to have restored to hot water to surrounding homes in the Grenfell area  by this Wednesday, July 5th, after the boiler underneath the tower was destroyed in the fire. This will allow people in surrounding roads to return to their homes. Those living in affected properties have been offered accommodation in local hotels.

 

 

Arabic and Farsi newsletter

Translations of the Grenfell Fire Response Team Community Newsletter are being distributed in Arabic and Farsi to help those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire get the support and information they need.
 
The Community Newsletter is given out each day via the Assistance Centre at the Westway Sports & Fitness Centre to residents and includes key updates on news and issues affecting residents.
See previous newsletters

 

 

Financial assistance

As of 12pm on 1st July, £ 2,445,129 has been distributed to affected families. This is made up of a £500 cash payment and £5,000 delivered through DWP into bank accounts or similar in a single payment, along with discretionary payments made by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. 112 households have been given £5,000 payments so far.

 

 

 

Grenfell volunteers

Volunteers at the Grenfell Community Assistance Centre are doing fantastic work to provide help for local people.

Typical of those giving up their time are volunteers Tanya Hedges and Abraham Chowdhury, who are working with the Red Cross.

Tanya said: “They (the Red Cross) have been helping us do a number of different jobs because it takes a lot of manpower.”

Abraham agrees: “At the end of the day we all have to work together; no one is taking the credit away from anyone. It’s just as individuals we cannot do much. We have to work together with other charities to help the people.”

Much of the volunteering efforts have centred on sorting through the donations from the public. Julie Doyle, one of six Red Cross volunteers who travelled up from Swansea to help, spoke of the overwhelming generosity from those donating:

“The gifts that have been given to them – the food and the clothes, all from different shops – it’s amazing. If you didn’t see it yourself you wouldn’t believe it”.

But for locals, volunteering at the Assistance Centre is about more than sorting through donations, as Abraham explains: “We’re the ones holding their hands and bringing them over to the centre so they can get what help they can.

“

And that’s the main thing we’re focusing on – building that trust with the community, and letting them know they can get that help when they come to the Westway and meet the Red Cross and all the other charities.”

The Red Cross helpline is available 24/7 for anyone who has been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire and is in need of support call 0800 458 9472 (free from landlines and mobiles).

 

 

Frequently asked questions

 

Are people affected by the fire being asked for ID at the assessment centre?People affected by the fire were issued letters informing them of the process to access funding and we have asked them to show this letter as some people may have had their IDs destroyed in the fire. This is to ensure those who need support get it. They should not be asked for their ID.

What will happen to anyone who isn’t documented but lived in the tower?

Support will be provided to all those residents whose homes have been destroyed in the fire. We will not use this tragic incident as a reason to carry out immigration checks on those involved and those providing vital information to identify victims. We will also make sure that all victims, irrespective of their immigration status, will be able to access the services they need, including accommodation and healthcare.

Will victims have to pay for outstanding utility bills? 

The Government and utility companies have announced a package of support for Grenfell victims across energy, water and telecommunications. This includes suppliers agreeing to write off outstanding utility bills for victims of the fire, and the support comes on top of the £5 million fund to pay for emergency supplies, food, clothes and other costs. Further details can be found here.

I’ve lost my passport in the fire and don’t know what to do?

If your passport, British Residence Permits, nationality, birth and marriage certificates or visas have been destroyed as a result of the Grenfell Tower Fire, then help is still available to you. You can meet with an advisor at the Westway Sports & Fitness Centre, Crowthorne Road, W10 6RP or call the 24 hour advice line on 0300 222 0000 to arrange for a call back by a member of the visa and passport team.

Will my eligibility for benefits be affected if I receive the £5,500 fund? 

The Department for Work and Pensions have said that your income-related benefits won’t be affected by payments from the fund. Other benefits such as Personal Independence Payments won’t be affected either and any payments from the emergency fund will not be taxed.

When will I get hot water back?

The hot water boiler which provided hot water and heating to Grenfell Tower and local properties was destroyed by the fire. Work has commenced on fitting a new temporary boiler and we are working hard to get hot water running as soon as possible. We are offering any residents affected hotel accommodation until we can fix this.

How can people find their post?

Grenfell Tower’s post is being held at Royal Mail’s West London Delivery Centre, Unit 20-23, 7 Premier Park Road, London NW10 7NZ (Open from 8am to 2pm Mon to Sat, 9am to 1pm Sun). There will also be a collection location at Westway Sports & Fitness Centre car park. No ID is required for collection. A free Royal Mail Redirection service is available to those affected for a period of one year. For more information on these services call 01752 387055.

Where should people call with information about missing people?

We are now in a transition from the casualty bureau to our incident room – if anyone needs to report a missing person or report information please use the new incident room number – 0800 032 4539.

Media enquiries: Grenfell Fire Response Team 24 hour media centre on020 7641 3677/3678/3679 or email grenfellcomms@westminster.gov.uk. For all other contacts, please consult our leaflet.

 

FacebookTwitterLinkedInShare