Grenfell Tower Update

The latest information about Grenfell Tower, including planned safety works
We have just published the write-up and the video from the community online event we held on 8 December. During the event we talked about the ongoing safety works in the Tower; how you can get involved in the appointment of the next principal contractor for the Tower site; and how you can give your views to MHCLG (about the Tower) or to the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission (about the future memorial).

Upcoming online events
Our next community online ‘drop-in’ event will be on Tuesday 2 February, 6–7pm. Here you will be able to hear from and ask questions of the MHCLG site management team and the community engagement team. You can join the event with this weblink: bit.ly/2FebEvent.

Please email me if you have a specific question that you would like the MHCLG team to answer at this event. I’ve also attached a pdf with event details for you to share with your networks over WhatsApp or as a printed poster (eg in noticeboards).

Please have your say
Earlier this month, we sent a letter to bereaved families, former residents of the Tower and Lancaster West estate residents. This letter is also for the community beyond these groups and you can read it here. We explained how the government wants to engage with you on decisions and activity relating to the Tower.

A decision has not yet been made about what will happen to the Tower. We don’t underestimate how difficult this decision will be, particularly for bereaved families. We want to hear your views before a decision is made. If you have not yet shared your views and would like to, you can do this in whichever way suits you best:

• Email your views to: [email protected]
• Call: 020 7082 5505 or text 07984 434855 to arrange a phone conversation. (Conversations can be carried out in a range of languages if that would be helpful.)
• Write to: Kaizen, 22a Cliff Villas, London NW1 9AT.
• Or complete an online survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/TheGrenfellMemorial

Work experience and free training opportunities:

Wates are the current principal contractor for the Grenfell Tower site, and carry out the ongoing maintenance and safety works there. Young people, parents and other members of the community may be interested in:

• ‘Virtual’ work experience in construction, from 15–19 February, for those aged 14-19 years.
• Online courses in construction, running every Monday, for those aged 19 years+.

The attached leaflets provide more information on how you can apply. Please could you share these with your networks?

These opportunities are part of MHCLG’s approach to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the area near Grenfell Tower, via the contractors we work with locally (such as Wates). We want to understand what other such opportunities would feel most important to you, so please let me know if you have suggestions.

Finally, we would appreciate your suggestions about how we can best keep in touch with you during lockdown, and about anything that is happening at the Grenfell Tower site. Please get in touch with us to share your ideas on this.

Many thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.