Good Causes

A restaurant chain in Ealing will be switching off their lights for an hour as part of a national bid to tackle climate change.

Carluccio's at The Green, Ealing, will be in the dark from 8.30-9.30pm on Saturday March 27 and will join millions of people and businesses around the world to support WWF's Earth Hour.

A former athlete, who has become a personal trainer for the elderly, is now creating a board game to help them develop co-ordination and stability.

Martin Hunt, from Ealing,who used to run for Ealing Southall & Middlesex Athletics club, decided to target his personal training towards the elderly as he has a disabled father and two disabled nephews. He was nominated for a Pride in our People awards for helping the elderly.

A plucky 25-year-old ,who has been deaf since birth and her mum, were among more than 200 volunteers who received awards in recognition of their sterling work.

All the volunteers had completed 100 hours of volunteering in the local community - a remarkable 20,000 hours altogether.A high point of the ceremony at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Ealing Common last Friday was the awards to mother and daughter, Mussarrat and Nida Hanid, who have been volunteering together at SNIPS, a toddlers' playgroup in West Ealing.

A school hall was transformed into an African market for the day which helped raise more than £600 for a charity.

The students of St Benedict's Senior school decorated the Cloisters with bright coloured signs and table cloths to make the market place look authentic and cakes, sweets, soft drinks and bracelets were on sale.

Young people interested in becoming journalists, radio DJs, TV presenters and politicians are being given the opportunity to take part in free training and workshops.

The Youth Digital Network, a media production and event management charity, in conjunction with Ealing Council will be rolling out initiatives for talented individuals in the next few weeks.

A 70-year-old man, who has strived to help his community for 14 years, has been nominated for a community champion award.

Livingston St Louis a father of three children and three grandchildren, has been vice chairman of the Acton Vale Tenants and Residents'Association for nine years and chairman for about five.

A woman lawyer is swapping the trials of the Old Bailey for the more physical ones of the Great Wall of China.

Laywer Damaris Lakin, (cor) 48, who has worked on high-profile murder trials with the Crown Prosecution Service for over eight years, is embarking on the five-day trek in June to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Special Police constables and cadets joined more than 200 young Somalis during a conference held at Ealing Town Hall last Wednesday.

The conference was held to raise awareness about the opportunities available to young Somali people in Ealing and was organised by the Tallo Youth Centre.

Work can now start on a vital extension for Meadow House hospice after a two-year Gazette-backed campaign to raise £250,000.

This will be matched by the Government and the extension should be finished by the summer, although another £100,000 is needed for fixtures and fittings.
The Meadow House hospice fund-raising campaign was launched, with Gazette backing, in 2007 and aims to build an extension, including two conservatories, which will improve services and patients' quality of life at its base in the grounds of Ealing Hospital.

An estate agent, with branches across West London, has been nominated for its support of local organisations, schools and voluntary groups.

Robertson Smith and Kempson (RSK) based in The Broadway, Ealing, with branches in Ealing, Shepherds Bush, Northfields, Acton and Hanwell runs a Community Matters Programme which backs a range of events and projects, from fooball kit to fetes.
Nomination forms in Gazette. Nominees can win up to £1000 and nominator could win £100.