‘Diabetes is a 24/7 job with no days off’
It is World Diabetes Day on 14 November and a local group is helping people to cope with the daily challenges of the lifelong – and life-changing – Type 1 version of the condition. The peer support group was the idea of Maureen McGinn, who works for the NHS and sits on the Ealing CCG […]
Winter can be bad for your health
The cold of winter can seriously affect the wellbeing of older people. It can also feel to others like a damp and dreary season that brings down their mood and worsens feelings of loneliness and isolation. That is why it is important to look after ourselves and check in on any vulnerable people we know […]
Ealing in 50 buildings – win a copy of new book
A new book takes readers on a tour of the borough through the tales surrounding 50 of its most significant buildings. Written by borough archivist Dr Jonathan Oates and Paul Lang, we have two copies of the book to give away in a competition (see below). First, Dr Oates tells us more about the subject […]
Tackling obesity can be life changing
Tackling obesity means helping children and families adopt healthy eating habits and keep fit. It is a key priority for Ealing Council and the benefits can be life-changing. That is why the council leads a partnership of local organisations working to tackle childhood obesity – and on starting good habits as early in life as […]
A friend in need is a BEfriend indeed
“I see volunteering as an opportunity, it’s not about giving something to someone it’s more about mutual gain. I’ve learnt so much,” said a volunteer for the local BEfriend service. Dominic Agha-Rafei (pictured above) volunteers for BEfriend, formerly the Volunteer Link Scheme, which was established in 1994. It provides one-to-one befriending to residents in the […]
How you can help to spot, and stop, slavery
Slavery has not gone away. Unbelievably, more than 250 cases were reported in London last year alone. A new national campaign is showing how you might be able to help spot the signs of modern slavery. The campaign highlights how the problem is ‘hiding in plain sight’ and that there are a number of tell-tale […]
Plaque unveiled to legendary local musician
The wife of a celebrated musician was joined in Perivale by fans and the mayor to unveil a plaque outside the childhood home of her late husband. Nicky Hopkins (1944-94) was a renowned musician and considered by many to be one of the greatest session rock keyboardists ever. He played alongside some of the most […]
Footballer visits school to talk about diversity
A primary school’s celebration of Black History Month included a visit from a footballer who grew up nearby. Brentford FC defender Dominic Thompson went to Greenwood Primary School in Greenford to take part in a diversity lesson with pupils for Black History Month. The 19-year-old, who joined the Bees from Arsenal in the summer, spoke […]
You got the bottle to face zoo’s Halloween horror?
We have all heard of the phrase ‘a message in a bottle’ – but this half term Hanwell Zoo has taken it literally for its campaign for Halloween week, with a creative way to show off the scary truth about plastic waste. ‘Message in a Bottle’ is a 12ft high sculpture at the heart of […]
Lunatics and Geordies: A football club’s history
Hanwell Town Football Club will celebrate its centenary in 2020 and the club historian, Colm Hickey, gives an account of the history of the club and football in the town: From self-styled lunatics to community stalwarts. The first recorded account of football in Hanwell was in 1867 when an advertisement in the Middlesex County Times […]
Adopting a new approach to adoption
Adoption in London could be a bit of a ‘postcode lottery’ in the past but a new agency approach is bringing together groups of councils to work together under one roof. Its new head of service promises it should prove ‘far more effective’. Adopt London West is the new regional adoption agency covering the boroughs […]
Football psychologist helps young carers cope
As World Mental Health Day is marked across the country this week, a professional sports psychologist ran a wellbeing workshop for local, young carers. They discussed ways to cope with the day-to-day mental and emotional challenges faced in their roles at home. The session led by Brentford FC’s psychologist, Michael Caulfield, was held at the […]
