Like Santa, December is a busy month for Wanstead resident Frank Charles BEM, who’ll once again soon be delivering presents to sick children. Unlike Santa, Frank needs your help to fill his sack with toys

Elsa Arnold, founder of the Spreading Kindness Through E11 initiative, talks about her new role as community outreach coordinator for The Duke and highlights how you can help her spread festive cheer

Biscuits and chocolates needed

Paul Canal is overseeing the third annual Wanstead Christmas Dinner Appeal and urges anyone who can make up an extra plate on Christmas Day to get in touch

Redbridge Council has launched its Women’s Safety Mission Statement

Redbridge Music Society will host local choir Modality on 6 December

Local residents have paid tribute to Bruce, the black swan, who died from avian influenza earlier this month

Wanstead Cricket Club member Scott Emmons is raising funds to help an African school

Residents gathered on George Green last month for the switching on of Wanstead’s Christmas tree lights. Here, local councillors Jo Blackman, Paul Donovan, Daniel Morgan-Thomas, Sheila Bain and Bayo Alaba reflect on the event. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson

Residents are invited to donate gifts, clothes and Christmas treats to the Tin in a Bin foodbank on 26 November

Members of Art Group Wanstead will be selling handmade creations, decorations and artwork

Redbridge Museum will open a new permanent exhibition early next year exploring 200,000 years of local history. In the ninth of a series of articles, Museum Officer Nishat Alam looks at some of the items on show