The year ahead: it’s going to be busy
What’s happening in the year ahead? Quite a lot. From new ways for you to have a say on your neighbourhood, to big changes to our parks, and much more besides. The long-awaited new Local Plan, that will shape the future of the borough over the next 15 years, is reaching the point it can […]
VE Day events near you
Events are being held to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day during a 4-day commemoration. VE Day first took place on 8 May 1945, marking the Allied victory in Europe over Nazi Germany. The news resulted in millions of people across the country celebrating the end of the war with parties, […]
‘Strangely like the Blitz’: VE Day remembered
It is the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. The early May bank holiday will form part of a 4-day commemoration. Borough archivist Dr Jonathan Oates looks back to the original VE Day in 1945. After nearly 6 years of war, it was becoming increasingly clear in early May 1945 that Germany would […]
Where does your town get its name?
Our borough is reaching a milestone in April. It will be 60 years ago that, in 1965, the old boroughs of Ealing, Acton and Southall were abolished. They were merged into one new local authority, with the name Ealing Council, administering the new London borough of Ealing. By 2023, our borough’s population had reached more […]
Celebrating libraries: cornerstone of communities
Libraries have long been the cornerstone of our communities, fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning, providing a quiet space for children and young people to study and a place for people to build connections with others when they might otherwise feel isolated. Books are the first thing to come to mind when you […]
‘Lot of damage in Ealing’: war through the eyes of Erica
With the approaching 80-year anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day, borough archivist Dr Jonathan Oates looks at the diaries of a local woman, Erica Ford, and her insights into everyday life during the Second World War. We are fortunate to possess several local diaries which cover some or all of the Second World War. […]
Ready to rock? Hootie music legacy continues
The 12th Hanwell Hootie free music festival will take place on Saturday 10 May – keeping the town ‘firmly on the musical map’. Since it was first held in 2013 as a free music festival by local people, the Hootie grew in renown and popularity. And 2022’s event was possibly the biggest yet, across 2 […]
Financial planning for the year ahead
This week we, as your local council, set a budget for the next financial year, which runs from 1 April 2025 to the end of March 2026. We have a legal duty to set a balanced budget and, by being prudent, ruthlessly efficient and focused on value for money, we have always done so. This […]
New ‘family’ network for foster carers
A foster carer has told of her excitement at a new support network based on creating an ‘extended family’ to help carers and the children they look after. Ealing Council’s fostering service revealed its new ‘Mockingbird’ programme at a special event recently. It aims to provide young people and foster carers with a wider support […]
Company sold clothes donations for profit
A company, and its management, was ordered to pay out more than £14,000 after setting up textile donation banks illegally – and then selling the clothes for profit. West Drayton-based company 2020 Textiles placed clothes collection banks strategically across the borough. They resembled charity clothes banks, to encourage donations, but 2020 Textiles was selling the […]
Gingerbread streets, an Oscar winner and more
If the beginning of 2025 has you feeling a little flat; this instalment of Reel Life could be just the tonic to lift your spirits. You’ll discover the latest round-up from the world of TV and filmmaking in and around the borough. We’re not bragging but we’ve got more award winners, TV personalities and gingerbread […]
Prime Minister meets council staff to discuss AI success
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met with staff members from Ealing Council on Tuesday (4 February) to talk about how the council is using artificial intelligence (AI) help provide better social care. At a reception at 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir met with social worker Joanna James, council leader Peter Mason and chief executive Tony […]
