Trees for Cities: Ashburton Playing Fields Project Update

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Trees for Cities is pleased to be working with Croydon Council to plant some new trees on Ashburton Playing Fields. We are planting some large trees across the playing fields to provide additional shade and enhance biodiversity.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the tree planting design. Comments, concerns and suggestions were taken into consideration to create the updated design and species list which can be viewed on our website.

Following community consultation, we are planning to plant the trees in March 2024. There will be lots of opportunities to volunteer and get involved with a community planting day planned for 16th March 2024.

If you would like to be kept informed of this project, or would like to learn how to get involved, please click here for contact details.

Croydon Trading Standards – No Blame No Shame Campaign

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What Can You Do?

Talk about fraud, scams and financial abuse with your friends and family
Share your experiences and make fraud, scams and financial abuse part of day-to-day conversations. This will help to break down the stigma and shame which is so often felt by victims, and will encourage victims to report and get the help and support that they need.

Recognise the impact that this crime can have on its victims
Victims of fraud, scams and financial abuse are not stupid, naïve, or greedy – they are victims of a crime.

Do not victim blame. Put the blame on the criminal where it belongs.
Phrases such as ‘how could anyone fall for that’ implies that it’s obvious and puts blame on the victim for not realising and responding. The criminals behind fraud, scams and financial abuse use coercive and controlling behaviour to defraud victims – the blame should be on the criminals, not the victims.

The phrase ‘fall for a scam’ is often used, but you don’t hear ‘fall for a burglary’. This kind of language puts blame on the victim. We need to change the language we use when talking to, and about scam victims, to take away the blame and shame.

Research showed that when people realised they’d become a victim of a scam, the most common feelings were being ‘angry’ with themselves, (46%), feeling ‘stupid’ (40%) and ‘embarrassed’ (38%).

The language we use when talking to, and about scam victims is really important – No Blame. No Shame.

Planning Report – November 2023

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To find out the latest news on what is being planned in your local area, check out our latest Planning Report with up-to-date information on Planning Applications including developments in:

  • Addiscombe Road
  • The Glade
  • Gladeside
  • Orchard Avenue
  • Orchard Rise
  • Round Grove
  • St. George’s Church
  • Tower View
  • Wickham Road and Woodmere Gardens.

Also, take a look at the MORA Planning App, which gives you an easy way to track all the current and recent planning applications within the MORA area. It’s simple to use and free for you to access.

Yellow Weather Warning Rain – Saturday 4th November 05:00 – 23:59

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The Met Office has issued a yellow rain weather warning for Saturday 4th November 05:00 – 23:59

Yellow warnings mean that you should plan ahead thinking about possible travel delays, or the disruption of your day to day activities.

Heavy rain or showers falling on saturated ground may cause some disruption, particularly to travel.

Please keep up to date with the latest Met Office forecast details either on the Met Office App or Met Office website.

Trading Standards – Christmas Shopping Scams

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Photo by Dima D

Offers too good to be true!

Leading up to Christmas please be aware of scam adverts online and social media for popular Christmas presents that are just too good to be true and not advertised by an official retailer. An example of an offer too good to be true has recently been investigated by Which?

Which? found active scam ads promoting the £350 Jo Malone advent calendar for around £30. The official limited edition Jo Malone advent calendar retails for £350 and includes lotions, perfume, toiletries and candles.

Clues to look out for in these scam adverts are the bad spelling and grammar, and that the sellers use a random profile name unrelated to the actual brand, in this instance the Jo Malone brand. Some of the adverts led to malicious websites phishing for personal details.

The scam sites include a countdown timer and notifications about purchases in ‘real time’ and list the number of advent calendars in stock. These are typical tactics used to make victims act under pressure, without taking the time to verify the authenticity of the information.

Here are a few more tips to avoid shopping scams:

  • Browse the website – look out for bad spelling and grammar, as well as the absence of terms and conditions and contact details.
  • Check the URL – if it’s not the brand’s official website, it could be a scam page.
  • Check how long ago the website was created by using a domain checker such as who.is – a newly created website should raise suspicions.

To report a scam ad on Facebook, select the three-dot icon on the right-hand side of the page and press ‘report’. Scam websites, like these dodgy phishing websites, can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre.

Do not be tempted to give the scammers any further details, even if they claim to be ‘refunding ‘ you. If you think you may have been scammed, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Action Fraud.

For the full article please follow this link: Watch out for scam Facebook ads for bogus Jo Malone advent calendars – Which? News which.co.uk