The Romanian and Eastern European Hub Newsletter

Autumn 2026

Welcome

Welcome to the first edition of The Romanian and Eastern European Hub newsletter.

We are delighted to share updates about our services, activities, projects and opportunities available to our community. Over the past few months, we have continued supporting individuals and families across London through advice, advocacy, community activities, wellbeing programmes and practical support.

Whether you are a long-standing member of our community or hearing about us for the first time, we hope this newsletter helps you stay connected and informed about the support available through the Hub.

Thank you for being part of our community.

Cecilia Petre & Nadia Mihai
Co-CEOs and Co-Founders

Need Advice or Support?

The Hub provides free, tailored advice and support to help individuals and families overcome barriers and access the services they need.

We can help with:

Housing and homelessness issues
Welfare benefits
Support for survivors of domestic abuse
Immigration matters
Employment and workers’ rights
Healthcare access
Education and training
Digital support
Signposting and referrals to specialist services

📞 Telephone: 0204 513 1500
📧 Email: contact@ro-eehub.org.uk
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

If you need support or know someone who does, please get in touch.

What’s On Every Thursday

👶 Playgroup

A friendly playgroup for children aged 0-5 years and their parents or carers.

Children can enjoy fun and educational activities while parents and carers meet other families, share experiences and access support and information.

📍 Victoria Hall, Sheepcote Road, Harrow
🕙 Every Thursday, 10:00am to 11:00am

☕ Social Café

Our Social Café offers a warm and welcoming environment where community members can meet others, enjoy refreshments, combat loneliness and reduce social isolation.

Attendees can also receive help with accessing services, completing forms and obtaining information about local support available to them.

📍 SEEDS Hub, Empire Way, Wembley, HA9 0RJ
🕛 Every Thursday, 12:00pm to 2:00pm

Both activities are free to attend and everyone is welcome.

Community Highlights

Celebrating Ukraine’s Independence Day

We were proud to co-organise a Ukraine Independence Day celebration with Harrow Council, bringing together Ukrainian residents, local leaders, and community partners from across the borough.

The event celebrated Ukrainian culture, resilience, and community spirit, while providing an opportunity for people to connect and strengthen local relationships. We were delighted to be joined by the Mayor of Harrow, Harrow Council representatives, and members of our team as we marked this important occasion together.

Mayor of Harrow, Harrow Council representatives, and The Romanian and Eastern European Hub team at the Ukraine Independence Day celebration.

Summer Camp 2026

During August, we successfully delivered our annual Summer Camp programme children across North-West London.

Throughout the summer, children participated in a variety of educational, creative and recreational activities designed to build confidence, encourage teamwork and develop new skills. The programme also provided a safe and welcoming environment where children could make friends, stay active and enjoy their school holidays.

It was wonderful to see so many young people participating and engaging enthusiastically in the activities.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all the staff, volunteers, partners and families who helped make this year’s Summer Camp such a success.

We are also extremely grateful to John Lyon’s Charity, whose funding made this programme possible and helped provide enriching opportunities for local children and families throughout the summer.

Our daily park walk, helping children stay active, refreshed, and ready for the day ahead. 🌳🚶‍♀️☀️

London Catalyst Samaritan Fund

The Hub continues to administer the London Catalyst Samaritan Fund, which provides emergency support to people experiencing severe financial hardship.

The fund may be able to assist with:

Food and essential living costs
Temporary accommodation
Travel expenses
Personal care items
Household essentials
Documentation costs
Other urgent needs

If you, or someone you are supporting, is experiencing financial hardship, homelessness, domestic abuse, poverty or another crisis situation, please contact us to discuss whether support may be available.

Self-Assessment Registration: Important Deadline Reminder

If you have become self-employed, receive untaxed income or have other circumstances requiring you to complete a Self-Assessment tax return, you may need to tell HMRC by 5 October 2026 for the 2025-26 tax year.

You may need to register if you:

Are newly self-employed and earning over £1,000
Receive untaxed income over £2,500
Earn income through online trading
Receive rental income above HMRC thresholds
Need to pay Capital Gains Tax
Claim Child Benefit while earning over £60,000
Have other income not taxed through PAYE

If you are unsure whether you need to complete a tax return, please contact the Hub for guidance or use HMRC’s online checker.

The deadline for submitting an online tax return is 31 January 2027.

London Voter Registration Week 2026

14-20 September 2026

London Voter Registration Week is an annual campaign encouraging eligible Londoners to register to vote and participate in democracy.

Registering to vote only takes a few minutes and helps ensure your voice is heard on issues that affect your community.

If you are eligible and not yet registered, now is a good time to check your registration details and ensure you are ready to vote in future elections.

#NoVoteNoVoice
#LVRW2026

For more information, visit the Greater London Authority’s Democracy Hub:

🔗https://www.registertovote.london/

Are You Worried About Your Child’s Development?

Does your child struggle with attention, communication, learning, social interactions or emotional regulation?

Many parents worry about seeking help because they don’t want their child to be labelled. However, accessing support early can help families better understand their child’s needs and ensure they receive the right support both at school and at home.

Families living in Harrow and other areas served by Central and North-West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) may be able to access support through the SHINE referral pathway for autism and ADHD assessments.

Speak to your GP, health visitor or your child’s school if you would like to find out more.

👉 Find out more about SHINE: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/shine

Helping Children Stay Safe Online

The online world is constantly changing, and new risks are emerging, including AI-generated images, scams, cyberbullying and harmful online content.

One of the best ways to help keep children safe online is by maintaining open conversations about their digital activities and encouraging them to seek help when something doesn’t feel right.

👉 Helpful resources for parents:

NSPCC Online Safety: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
Internet Matters: https://www.internetmatters.org/
Childnet: https://www.childnet.com/

Does Your Child Love Technology?

If your child enjoys gaming, coding, computers or technology, those interests could lead to exciting education and career opportunities.

The Metropolitan Police’s Cyber Choices programme helps young people understand how to use their digital skills safely, responsibly, and positively, while avoiding online activities that could put them at risk or get them into trouble.

We encourage parents, carers and young people to learn more about the programme and watch this short awareness video:

🎥 Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjYrxzSe3DU

💻 Find out more: https://www.cyberchoices.uk

Together, we can help young people develop their digital skills safely and confidently. 🔒📱💻

Protecting Children’s Photos Online

Advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier than ever for images shared online to be copied, altered or misused.

Parents and organisations are increasingly encouraged to think carefully about what photos are shared publicly and to review privacy settings regularly.

A few simple precautions can help protect your child’s privacy and wellbeing online.

👉 https://saferinternet.org.uk

Coming Up

Keep an eye on our social media channels and website for: