Helping you stick to your New Year's resolutions - part two

Happy New Year Waltham Forest! Have you decided what New Year’s resolution you’ll be sticking to this year?  

As we mentioned in the first part of this guide, we want to help you make 2024 your year. Here are some more resources to help you stick to your pledges.

Giving or volunteering your time, resources, or ideas to a cause you are passionate about can be extremely rewarding and a fantastic way to give back to the local community. 

• Learn about the many volunteering opportunities available in Waltham Forest. 
• Want to volunteer in one of our parks? You could be helping improve green spaces for wildlife, keeping our parks beautiful and learning more about conservation, nature, and biodiversity. 
• Want to support fellow residents to overcome digital barriers and improve their confidence and their basic skills? Volunteer as a Digital Champion and provide friendly face-to-face support to our residents at our library drop-in sessions. 

Volunteering takes time and sometimes it's not the most viable option to do good. Did you know there are ways for you to support those in need directly at home? 

• Do you have a spare room in your house? Become a foster carer and make a difference to a young person’s life. You will receive plenty of support including training and a dedicated support team, as well as weekly allowance, council tax discount and much more. 
• In partnership with Two Generations, our Homeshare scheme matches older people who have a spare room, with younger people who can provide bespoke assistance, such as helping with chores, providing companionship, or giving lifts, in return for reduced rent. 
• Become a Shared Lives carer. Shared Lives helps adults with a range of care needs who need support to live a more independent family life by going to live with a Shared Lives carer. Instead of going into a care home setting, the cared-for person lives in the family home with their Shared Lives carer, providing a real-life family experience. 

If you are one of the many people with a never-ending 'Want to read' list on Goodreads for the year ahead, why not check out what our amazing libraries have on offer.  

• The new Waltham Forest Libraries online platform makes it even easier to find new stories and reserve your favourite titles ahead of your visit.  
• If you are a little bit more old school and like to lose yourself between the bookshelves, find your closest library and pay them a visit. 
• We know some of our residents might find it difficult to visit the library, but through our new Libraries 2 You programme you can get books, audiobooks and large-print books delivered to your door every four weeks. 

Around 40,000 wedding proposals happen every year in the UK between Christmas and New Year's Eve. If you are one of the lucky ones who will be planning a wedding this year, congratulations! Organising a wedding can be incredibly fun, but also quite stressful. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. 

• Visit our Waltham Forest Ceremonies portal to learn more about having your wedding at one of our venues 
• Why not come along to our Wedding Fair at Waltham Forest Town Hall, on Sunday 4 February, where you will be able to meet vendors, learn more about the ceremonies available in our venues and see the gorgeous Fellowship Square in person.