A festival of community events will be taking place in Tower Hamlets this week to show appreciation for the locals who volunteered during the pandemic. 

The event is an attempt to support volunteers, residents, businesses, and community organisations recovering from pandemic’s effects using a grant of £50,000 provided by the Mayor’s Covid recovery scheme. 

The £3m scheme is aimed at assisting the borough’s economic, health and social recovery from the Covid-19 virus, bringing people together through a series of events, including supper clubs, street parties and mental health workshops.

The events will be running until Sunday November 7. 

Tower Hamlets Mayor, John Biggs said: ‘I am pleased to see a diverse range of events being organised to support residents and celebrate the work of our amazing volunteers who worked so hard through the pandemic.

‘Through our £3 million Mayor’s Covid Recovery Fund we are able to provide help alongside our partners where it is needed most; be it through business support, helping those who have suffered mentally and physically during the pandemic or by giving young people the tools and skills they need for their futures.’

The events will be as followed: 

• Thursday November 4, 6.30pm- Trans Parent Day panel discussion hosted by the LGBT+ Community forum. This event will be giving the transgender society the opportunity to connect. More information here. 

• Friday November 5, 11am-3pm- A Bollywood community party hosted by Neighbours in Poplar. More information here. 

• Saturday and Sunday November 6-7- Workshops aiming to help people build resilience, increase confidence, and make the most of mental health services, hosted by Leaf Coaching, a local community development organisation. More information here.

Councillor and Cabinet Member for Culture, Arts and Sports, Sabina Akhtar said: ‘The pandemic will have long-term effects on all of us. Social isolation was a common impact of the pandemic for many residents which is why we’ve set aside money for a fortnight of community events to help bring people together.

‘I’m really pleased we have been able to plan these events and I hope they will be successful in bringing people together and thanking people for their vital contributions throughout difficult times.’