Issuu

Neighbours Paper ’

Issue No 70

Putting the People of Ealing First Autumn 2014

Grade I listed St Mary’s Church Northolt. See Ealing’s Listed Buildings on page 6-7

Also in this issue: Autumn Events CAP Job Club Hope for Young People Local Democracy Brazilian Martial Arts

Free

Plea Tak se e On e

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E dito rial

NP Editorial Team

This edition looks at the positive contribution listed buildings make to our borough. Sadly NHS, planning and democracy concerns are reported too. There are good things for young people as we spotlight young people’s centres and Woodcraft Folk, while our youth reporter advises on A-level choice. Those seeking work will be interested in the new Job Club. All this and lots more including Autumn Events in the Borough. Don’t miss out!

Contents Contents Editorial................................................ 2 Autumn Events..................................... 2 Latest Local NHS News........................ 3 Ealing Notes......................................... 4 Ealing CAP Job Club........................... 5 Ealing’s Listed Buildings...................6-7

AUTUMN EVENTS West Ealing Soundbite Festival

Local Democracy............................... 8 News from Acton................................. 9 Hope for Young People.................... 10 Woodcraft Folk.................................. 11

Saturday 13 September 12.00 Noon to 10.00PM at Dean Gardens and other venues. Free food and music festival celebrates rich diversity in West Ealing. Music, food, community events, craft tent, children’s entertainment. fun-fair, cookery demonstrations, steel band workshop and more. Music from 12.00 Noon to 10.00pm at Dean Gardens and elsewhere. Don’t miss the Health Zone in Dean Gardens with information on family health issues. More info at www.lidocentre.org.uk/publichealth. See www. soundbitefestival.org and www.ealing-club.com/west-ealing-soundbite-festival.

Ealing Autumn Festival

Tuesday 21 October 11.00am, Maurice Fowler Hall, St Benedict’s School, Montpelier Avenue, Ealing W5. Coffeetime concert: light-hearted music in an informal setting. Margaret Morrell (soprano), Mandy Morrell (violin and astrology), Gillian Spragg (piano).

10-26 October Inspired by 450th Anniversary of birth of Galileo At the time of NP preparation these events were confirmed: For more: see website. Friday 10 October 2pm and Saturday 11 October 7pm, St Peter’s Church, Mount Park Road, Ealing W5. “Galileo!” - New community opera based on the life and work of Galileo. International and community opera singers and musicians with cast of 150 children conducted by Philip Hesketh. Tuesday 14 October 2.30pm, Hanwell Library, Rainbow Poetry Recital themed “Galileo” – poetry and discussion. Saturday 18 October 7.30pm, St Barnabas Church, Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5. William Lloyd Webber Centenary Celebration. William Lloyd Webber: “Aurora” - Schumann: Piano Concerto Brahms: Symphony in E minor No 4 West London Sinfonia with Philip Hesketh (conductor), Jan Rautio (piano)

Tuesday 21 October 7.30pm, Drayton Court Hotel, 2 The Avenue, West Ealing W13. George Szirtes and his family: literary/art/jazz evening celebration Winners of the Poetry Competition will also be announced. Saturday 25 October 11.00am, Hanwell Library, Cherington Road, Hanwell W7. ‘Transport for the Family’: heritage talk and exhibition about transport over the years in the London Borough of Ealing. ‘Constellations” Exhibition’ – a series of 16 paintings of constellations and galaxies by the 4020 Art Group commissioned for ‘Galileo!’ will be shown at venues to be confirmed. Please see: www.ealingautumnfestival.co.uk for details and for the many opportunities for you and your children to take part in this unique Ealing Autumn Festival.

Choosing A-Levels............................ 11 Brazilian Martial Arts.......................... 12

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Facebook.com/NeighboursPaper Email: neighbourspaper@hotmail.co.uk Editor: Tom Whiting (020 8840 5740) Treasurer: Judy Breens Writers: Arthur Breens, Judy Breens, Monika Eady, Anthony Lewis, Michael Holmes, Devi Joshi, Julia Sarson, Sanya Sheikh, Tom Whiting Designer: Jamie Anson Cover: Drawing by local artist Edward Dunstall Webmaster: Sonia Nimley Advert Designer: Sandy Anson Printer: Pollyprint Ltd, 263 Northfield Avenue, Ealing W5 4UA, 0208 579 1441, www.pollyprint.co.uk Advertisement rates: Single Box £25, Double Box £45, Triple Box £70 Next copy deadline: 31st October 2014

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Latest Local NHS News Written by O liver New, Cartoon by Grant Hamlin

Two years ago we were all horrified at plans to close four local Accident and Emergency Departments. It’s well known that once A&E departments close, the hospital’s future is in doubt. At Ealing Hospital 83% of admissions are emergencies. A functioning A&E department is essential for a series of other departments. So where are we now? The good news is that local people are overwhelmingly united that we need to keep our hospitals. A pro-NHS and pro-hospitals vote was reflected in local election results in Ealing and Hammersmith. But will the Government re-think its plans? Will Labour commit itself to restoring hospitals? Services in the Community We were told that ‘Services in the Community’ would be much better for us than full hospitals. Two years on there are still no visible preparations for these. Instead, we are looking at the closure of local hospitals in their present form without adequate replacement services. Central Middlesex and Hammersmith Hospitals are set to lose their A&E’s in September. Further down the road, it’s planned that Ealing and Charing Cross Hospitals are to be demolished and replaced by small ‘local’ hospitals with no A&E and the bulk of the sites sold to property developers. Ealing Hospital would go from 352 to about 100 beds, which would be mainly filled by patients

from Clayponds Hospital which is due to close completely with its 68 bed capacity. The first step, in February 2015, is to close Ealing Hospital’s Maternity Department (recently upgraded at a cost of £300,000) where 3,000 births take place yearly. When is an A&E not an A&E? ‘Haven’t these A&E’s been reprieved?’ some people are asking. Sadly no. The government have simply re-designated Urgent Care Services as a new type of A&E. That’s not just a cynical politician’s sleight of hand (or a lie) but it’s dangerous. If a service is called an A&E, but has no specialist consultants and at times even no doctors, if it does not receive blue light ambulances, then don’t call it an A&E. People will go there in an emergency and lose valuable time. Ealing’s GPs will be expected to cover the loss of the local A&Es, even though they are already hopelessly overloaded. On top of that, they’re also expected to take up the additional burden of a reduction in mental health and children’s services. We also hear of GP practice closures and appointment restrictions in some areas. Hospitals such as Hillingdon and St Mary’s in Paddington will be asked to open their emergency winter beds, begging the question of what happens in the winter. So who’s in charge of this dreadful mess? Well, it seems nobody wants to take responsibility. The Ealing Clinical

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Commissioning Group (ECCG) approves but says they’re not responsible. NHS England, a remote body set up by the Government, says it’s a local matter, as does the Government. The truth is, they are all in it together and we’re losing effective accountability as well as hospital departments. Act now before it’s too late! Meanwhile as NHS services are progressively put out to tender the value of private health companies is rocketing up and we get ever closer towards US-style private healthcare. If enough people protest loudly enough we can make a difference. Join the Teddy Bears’ Picnic Maternity closure protest on 21 September! For info on that and Ealing Save our NHS Campaign please e-mail eveturner@btinternet.com.

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Ealing Notes:

Ealing Cinema Latest By J udy B reens

Gunnersbury Park Good News The park and heritage buildings are jointly owned and managed by Hounslow and Ealing Councils. In July £4.7 million of Lottery funding to restore the 186 acre park was granted. The aim is to restore the whole grounds including: • Building a brand new café to replace the current one • Re-introducing boating on the Round Pond • Restoring the Orangery, archways, terrace and listed structures • Reinstating lost park features such as the Horseshoe Pond In late July we heard that another £4 million has been granted to restore the Large Mansion, museum and other listed buildings currently on English Heritage’s ‘at risk’ list. This is brilliant news See www.ealingcivicsociety.org for latest news and links.

Ealing Broadway Station

New plans for Ealing Broadway Station were passed by Ealing Planning Committee in August. Work on the station should start late 2015. Public protest at the first design had produced a rethink. An improved canopy, larger ticket hall and four new lifts are welcome improvements. But why was there no proper public consultation? With Crossrail, passenger numbers will rise massively. Even with the changes, the station space is unlikely to be big enough. Save Ealing’s Centre believes democracy and success demanded a far wider public consultation. More on www.saveealingscentre.com.

Ealing Cinema closed in 2008. Empire Cinema Company promised to rebuild. The Council approved their new plans. Despite pressure nothing has happened in six years. In July the Council delivered a ‘Compulsory Purchase Order’ (CPO) on the company. They have an agreed purchaser, developer and new approved plans for a larger site with a multi-screen cinema, restaurants and flats. Campaigners are also pressing to include a professionally run performance space and Arts Centre. A recent complication is that Empire Cinemas re-started work on their cinema site. CPO processes are quite complicated so it is not certain what will now happen. We wait to see!

Warren Farm Saved?? After the outcry from Hanwellians and other Ealing Borough residents, QPR now may back out of their deal with the Council. This was to lease two-thirds of the 61-acre land free of charge for 200 years in return for managing the remaining one third for the community. The row encouraged QPR to look elsewhere and it seems they have now found another site. Most thought the QPR deal was outrageous. As well as being large enough to host major sports events, Warren Farm is also the best-drained sports field in the borough. No community event has required cancellation in 10 years. Save Warren Farm now plans to register the land as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ under the 2011 Localism Act. With Hanwell Community Forum they are seeking grants to build a 21st Century Sports Pavilion with an associated management plan. See www.savewarrenfarm.com for more details.

Walpole Park Pond Last time we reported on the unsafe proposed pond in Walpole Park. There was no safety shelf. The water depth at the edge would have been 770mm. This would cover the mouth and nose of a toddler had he/she fallen in. Thankfully after a lot of badgering, the Council agreed to install a shallow margin around the pond. Now a safe 370mm. Well done to Arthur Breens and others who wrote in to the Council!

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Ealing CAP Job Club

By J ulia Sarson

Recent unemployment figures brought good news. The number of people in work is increasing. Nevertheless it can be challenging to find a way back into employment, especially if you’ve been unemployed for longer periods. Jobseekers meeting weekly A new job club recently opened in Northfields to help jobseekers gain the tools needed to find work. The Ealing CAP job club, one of a network of over 90 job clubs across the country, was launched in April 2014 by members of St Paul’s Church Northfields who have been trained by UK charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP). The club offers a welcoming, supportive environment. Jobseekers meet weekly to encourage one another, increase their work-related networks and gain practical skills for finding work. Unemployment can be devastating. It’s not just the loss of income and resulting financial hardship. It’s also the loss of self-esteem. Even when unemployment is by choice, for example in the case of voluntary redundancy or maternity leave, people can still lose confidence and feel isolated. Focus on people’s strengths Ealing CAP job club is designed to provide social meetings and on-going

Come and enjoy our freshly prepared: snacks breakfasts lunch meals Italian specialities freshly ground coffees and more!

support to help re-build self-esteem and confidence along with skills and experience. According to Job Coach Joyce Onstad, ‘What’s great about the job club is the positive vibe and a focus not on what is lacking but on building on people’s strengths. This creates confidence and opens up endless possibilities.’ The club runs for nine weeks, with practical sessions covering topics such as identifying strengths, CV writing and interview techniques. Additionally each person attending the job club receives regular 1:1 coaching to help them set personal goals and decide on their next steps towards employment. Each week members and volunteers share a meal and have the chance to chat and build relationships.

have shared their knowledge of the job market, provided training and offered opportunities for volunteering or work experience. Ealing CAP Job Club is free and open to any jobseeker who is willing to commit to the nine-week course. It runs on Tuesdays from 12 to 3pm during term time at St Paul’s Church, Ridley Avenue Ealing W13. The next programme starts with an introductory session on 23 September, and there is a further course planned for the Spring term. For more information or to register for the Ealing CAP Job Club, or to help in any way call 07473 004435 or email juliasarson@capjobclubs.org You can also see www.capuk.org for more details and a video.

A life-transforming experience Feedback from the members demonstrates how the Ealing CAP Job Club helped them progress. They described unemployment as making them feel ‘valueless’, ‘nadequate’ and ‘depressed’ and left their lives lacking structure. But they found the Job Club ‘life transforming’, ‘very helpful’ and ‘improving their social life’. One exciting aspect of the job club has been the support of people from the local business community. They

newnt! r e d n U ageme man CAFFE AND BISTRO

3 St John’s Parade, Mattock Lane, West Ealing Telephone: 07455 470309 email: amalfi-caffe@mail.com Facebook: AmalfiCaffe

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Ealing's Listed Buildings By Anthony Lewis, Ealing Cricket Ground Conservation Area Panel Photos by Maggie Wilson Grade II* Former O deon Cinema Northfield Avenue If you think of listed buildings, perhaps you imagine stately homes set in immaculate grounds in beautiful countryside. Certainly, there are many such properties, but you may also be surprised to find a listed building almost on your own doorstep. Ealing is fortunate in having a significant number of both nationally and locally listed buildings across the borough. Definition of a listed building A listed building can be an individual house, a church, a civic building, or even street furniture, a milestone or a cattle trough. The main criterion is that the structure is of special architectural or historic interest and therefore deserves recognition and protection commensurate with its importance. The term ‘heritage asset’ is frequently used to describe listed buildings, although the definition of ‘heritage asset’ is broader than this as it includes, for example, conservation areas. There are two schemes for listing buildings. The first scheme is the National Heritage List for England which is maintained by English Heritage and has 374,000 entries. English Heritage classifies nationally important buildings in three categories: • Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest, and some of them are considered to be internationally important; • Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest; • Grade II buildings are nationally important buildings and of special interest.

Ealing has a handful of Grade I structures, including Pitzhanger Manor and its entrance arch, Brunel’s Wharncliffe viaduct in Hanwell, the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Perivale, the Church of St Mary in Northolt, and the old Church of the Holy Cross in Greenford.

authorities, and includes buildings which are of local rather than national importance – again because of their architectural significance or historical interest. They are often known as locally-listed buildings (to distinguish them from the nationally-listed buildings on English Heritage’s List).

There are also a dozen or so Grade II* buildings in Ealing. They include the Churches of St Mary and Christ the Saviour in Ealing, the Goldsmiths’ Almshouses in Acton, the Hoover Building in Perivale, the former Odeon Cinema on Northfield Avenue and the former Liberty Cinema in Southall, The Elms in Acton and the so-called ‘Voysey House’ at 14 South Parade in Bedford Park.

Over the past year, Ealing Council has comprehensively revised and updated its ‘local list’ which is now known officially as the Local Heritage Register. This Register, which will be reviewed annually, currently consists of three separate categories: • The Local Heritage List • The List of Buildings of Façade or Group Value • ‘Positive Contributors’ to a Conservation Area

Across the country, 92% of buildings listed by English Heritage are Grade II, and there are over 400 in Ealing. They range from the whole of Ealing Village on Hanger Lane to dozens of individual houses in Bedford Park, Ealing Town Hall and the old Ealing Town Hall (now NatWest Bank) on The Mall, Hanwell Bridge, the 1870 Fruit Packing Warehouse at 53 Northfield Rd, the 1895 lamp standards in Mount Park, and a number of Piccadilly Line stations. Ealing also boasts one of the most recently-built listed buildings in the country, namely the former IBM Distribution Centre in Greenford which was designed by Norman Foster in 1974.

The Local Heritage List records 421 individual buildings within the borough of Ealing which are considered to be locally important. They include the water tower on Hillcrest Road, the Drayton Court Hotel in The Avenue, a Victorian pillar box on Madeley Road, early 19th century cottages on Warwick Road, the 1930s flats

This is not the whole story The second scheme for listing buildings is managed by local Putting the People of Ealing First

Local

listed :

Plough Pub

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contributors’ to their conservation area and be included on the Local Heritage Register. As an example, many of the late Victorian and Edwardian houses on Corfton Road and Woodville Gardens are considered to make a positive contribution to the Ealing Cricket Ground Conservation Area. Ealing certainly has a wonderful and varied built heritage to explore and cherish. Facade Value Waldemar Ave W13 at Helena Court on Eaton Rise and Plough Pub in Northfield Avenue. The List of Buildings of Façade or Group Value records some 300 buildings which are significant because of the local architectural or historic interest of a group, parade or terrace of buildings rather than an individual building. Examples include a row of mid-Victorian houses on Mattock Lane, a group of Edwardian houses on Waldemar Avenue, a parade of shops on The Mall, and a terrace of Victorian houses in Burlington Gardens, Acton. Positive contributors The character appraisals of Ealing’s 29 conservation areas also recognise about 600 ‘key unlisted buildings’ in addition to buildings on the Local Heritage List and those on the List of Buildings of Façade or Group Value. As these key buildings make a positive contribution locally, they will be recorded in future as ‘positive

Further information 1. To find out whether a building is on English Heritage’s National Heritage List, go to: http://tinyurl.com/NationalHeritageList 2. To recommend a building for inclusion on the National Heritage List, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ NationalHeritageListRecommend

5. To find out more about Ealing’s conservation areas, including the ‘positive contributors’ (formerly known as key unlisted buildings) in each conservation area, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ EalingConservationAreas 6. Ealing Civic Society works to preserve and improve our borough, and has a particular interest in conservation, green spaces, heritage, planning and regeneration. New members are welcome. See www.ealingcivicsociety.org. 7. If you would like to know more about listed buildings in the borough, Robert Gurd (Chairman of Ealing Civic Society) will be giving a talk to Ealing U3A at 10.15 am on 26 February 2015 in Ealing Town Hall (admission £2 for non-members).

3. To find out whether a building is on Ealing Council’s Local Heritage Register, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ EalingLocal HeritageRegister *See Item 19 4. To recommend a building for inclusion on the Local Heritage Register, e-mail Ealing Council’s Conservation Team at planningconservation@ ealing.gov.uk

Grade II Fruit Packing Warehouse

Celebrating 1989

25 years

2014

Quality Property Ser vices in Ealing

Buying ... Selling ... Renting

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Local Democracy and Accountability By Arthur B reens National Grid has almost completed the upgrade of the gas main along Mattock Lane. They had the good sense to arrange a meeting with councillors, officers and residents before work began. At a ‘formative stage’ working methods were revealed, minds were put at ease and relationships formed. Problems that cropped up later were resolved by the foundation of goodwill laid down at the start. How sensible. Marquee madness However this practice of early engagement with affected residents is rare. The chief offenders are officers of Ealing Council. Recently a marquee appeared in Lammas Park and residents’ parking bays were suspended for a licensed corporate ‘Jolly’. No one was told but the precedent has now been set. Will it be 40 marquees next summer? The public were invited to join The Friends of Walpole Park but were not allowed to see the Lottery Fund bid before it went off. More recently the £46,000 makeover of St John’s Parade W13 took place without community engagement. Officers and councillors think that’s fine. But these works that tried in part to rationalise the parking, omitted to contain a guide notice for the many visitors to this area. Parking here is still a confusion

Lido J unction and redundant notice for them. That money might have been better spent in other parts of Walpole Ward. Residents were never asked. Another missed opportunity. Opening up the gates behind the West Ealing Library to prevent Lidl delivery lorries and hotel construction traffic damaging the expensive (£400,000) granite slabs that cover Melbourne Avenue might be one. Officers have sat on this proposal from residents for two years while slabs are constantly being repaired and replaced. The list could go on. Walk at your peril We elect councillors and if they don’t perform we can sack them at the ballot box. In contrast Council Officers seem immune to appraisal. Three told me that the dangers posed by a builders’ hording at the Lido Junction blocking a pavement were because pedestrians ignored the notices. They had been forced to walk in the road. It required a You-tube video produced by concerned residents to force the issue. After that the hording was taken back so that pedestrians could walk on the pavement safely. Confusingly the redundant notice ‘Caution Pavement Ahead Closed’ is still there, illustrating the sorry saga of incompetence. Who is in charge of these officers?

Autumn at The Plough • Sunday Roasts • Food served – all day 7 days a week • Live music on Thursdays

297 Northfield Ave W5 4XB

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There was one occasion when an officer was sacked and one suspended for poor performance but that was six years ago. There is the complaints procedure but it’s long and drawn out and ends with the Local Authority Ombudsman. Only personal problems can be dealt with. A community difficulty is outside the brief. Limited public engagement The other mechanism for debate, engagement and holding officers to account is Ward Forums. Their infrequency works against proper engagement. There are only three a year per ward. Many issues are missed, website information is late, minutes are ridiculously delayed and residents who bother to come and raise a problem in public are made anonymous in the minutes. So is there local democracy? It depends what you mean. Yes, we elect Councillors who in theory are in charge. They can be sacked at the ballot box. But many of us who know and care about our area wish our local expertise and knowledge was recognised and respected. The officers seem to be the decision makers in reality. If only they would work with us.

News from Acton

By Sanya Sheikh , Chair, Interim Central Acton Neighbours’ Forum

Inspiring or incensing, the new plans for The Oaks Shopping Centre in the heart of Acton have made a mark without a single spade splitting the ground. Set to dominate the skyline for generations to come, locals are deeply concerned. This proposed mixed-use development claims a much-toutedbut-as-yet-unsigned Waitrose in a basement of discount stores. Above, a multi-story car park wrapped in a restricted-access residential monolith culminating in a 9-storey high-rise is proposed. It would tower over Churchfield Road’s conservation burial ground and genteel Victorian buildings. The Council claims only a development like this will fulfill the urgent need for regeneration and job potential. Campaigners ‘Oaks Action Group’ (OAG) countered by calling for greater transparency as to how the application process carried such a reviled plan to approval and initiating a Judicial Review which has gone to appeal. Residents vs Planners Planning departments everywhere

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could be forgiven for assuming local residents are simply petulant that their patch is caught in commercial crossfire, yet the OAG vocally supported the principle of development. It merely lobbied for a building more sympathetic to the existing neighbourhood.

a fee without local consultation (as LBE has in Acton) encourages Forums to protect, not engage. But change will come. Invariably a bitter pill for communities to swallow, that change will certainly be more palatable if they’ve helped decide its flavour.

Alarmed by clashes over recent planning decisions and armed with the certain knowledge of exponential development, several local Neighbourhood Forums emerged, including the proposed Central Acton Neighbours’ Forum (CANForum).

The local people must be heard The council too must face a different and often discounted truth: communities have on-going relationships with their streets and spaces; they have a depth of expertise and knowledge no amount of planning documentation can question. So, whilst targets must be met and applications approved, a crucial trick mustn’t be missed. It is in the council’s gift to hear and include the people they are planning for, by ensuring developments are held to a higher standard, insisting they elevate community well-being and demanding they reflect the neighbourhoods from which they will cream their profit.

Neighbourhood Forums A mechanism of the Localism Act (2011), Neighbourhood Forums number over a thousand throughout the UK. The Council must allow them to prepare a planning document for a designated area. Once adopted, this Neighbourhood Plan, which must take national and local targets into consideration, has statutory underpinning and is one of the documents the council refers to on planning decisions. Potentially, if the local council accepts the intended spirit of the Localism Act, communities finally have a seat at the planning table. That seat, whilst a dazzling opportunity, may blind communities. As formal stakeholders entrenchment can seem the empowering option, but here it will win neither battle nor war. Sadly decisions like renaming the Town Hall for

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For more about CANForum email chair@canforum.org or tweet @ centralacton. Editors note. There are also Neighbourhood Forums in Central Ealing and West Ealing. See www.improvealing.com and www.wecnf.org.

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Hope for local young people Story & Photo

Tom Whiting

Ealing Council’s Youth and Connexions Service aims to empower and inspire young people to make positive life choices. Designed for young people in Ealing aged 13-19 years and up to 25 years for those with additional needs, there are opportunities for young people to: • gain new skills and qualifications • have a say in issues affecting them • get advice and support to prepare for the future • have fun and make friends For more info, contact Ealing Youth and Connexions Service, Ealing Council, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 2HL. Tel: 020 8825 5777; Email: youngealing@ealing.gov.uk Youth Centres in Ealing Borough Westside Young People’s Centre, Churchfield Road, Ealing, London W13 9NF. Tel: 0208 8255435; Email: westsideYPP@ealing.gov.uk. Centre coordinator: Karen Spencer. Programmes that cover fashion and textile, music production, sports, cooking, information and communication technology, and arts and design. Westside’s Disability Project is specifically for young people with additional needs from the ages of 13-25 years old. Facilities include a fully equipped gym, state-of-the-art computer equipment, and full-sized sports hall. Young Adult Centre, Park View Road,

Southall, Middlesex, UB1 3HJ. Tel: 020 8571 0685. Take part in games, trips, discussion groups, cooking, football, music, fitness, pool, table tennis and more. There’s also space for you to study and use the internet. Ken Acock Youth and Community Centre, Carr Road, Northolt, London UB5 4RQ. Tel: 02084235190. Record music; use the gym; take part in arts and crafts; fashion design; cooking; and outdoor sports. Bollo Brook Youth and Community Centre, 174 Bollo Bridge Road South Acton, London, W3 8DG. Tel: 020 8992 4001Music production, arts and crafts, sports, cooking and gardening, and support and advice. Learn new skills, achieve nationally recognised accreditation and have fun. Acton Vale Youth Club, Acton Vale Community Centre, Beech Avenue, Acton, London W3 7JZ. Arts and crafts, pool, table tennis, cooking, chess, board games, social space, discussion groups, social skills workshops, television, computer workshops, football, badminton and rounders. Other Youth Projects and Organisations in and around Ealing Future Youth Inspired (previously known as FutureVersity), 2nd floor, Perceval House 14/16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 2HL. Email fyi@ealing.gov.uk. Provides

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Westside Young People’s Centre a massive range of free fun and inspirational courses for young people aged 13-19 years, and up to 25 years for those with additional needs, who either live or study in Ealing borough. Tallo 19 Hanbury Road, London W3 8RF. Tel: 0208 993 3187. Offers support for young people of Somali descent. MENCAP, Enterprise Lodge, Stockdove Way, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 8TJ. Tel: 02085669575; www.ealingmencap. org.uk. Offers services and support for young people with disabilities. Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, 37 Half Acre, Brentford, TW8 8BH. Tel: 02083267030; Email enquiries@ brentfordfccst.com. Run a variety of activities and programmes for young people across the borough. Ealing Volunteer Police Cadets, Trailfinders Sports Club, Vallis Way, West Ealing, London W13 0DD. Tel: 020 8246 9527. A voluntary, uniform youth organisation for young people aged between 13 and 19, offering opportunities to take part in interesting adventurous and challenging activities, to develop skills, make friends and have fun. Cadets actively participate in improving community safety in Ealing.

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Ealing District Woodcraft Folk By Monika Eady Would you like your children and teenagers to have healthy fun activities and make new friends? Are they bored or over dependant on computer games and media? You may not know about Ealing Woodcraft Folk! We started 45 years ago in 1969. We’re entirely run by volunteers, many of them parents or past members. Groups for the following ages meet weekly during term time in Hanwell and South Ealing: • Woodchips (3-5 years) • Elfins (6-9 years) • Pioneers (10-12 years) • Venturers (13-15 years) • District Fellows (16-20 years)

Founded in 1925 it was part of the movement to promote health, equality, peace, cooperation and a better world for all. Many people lived in overcrowded conditions in the cities. Camping and hiking in the countryside was one answer. Mixed camps for boys and girls were introduced right from the beginning. The Co-op assisted with funds and does to this day. Conditions have changed, but children playing outdoors and enjoying the countryside is just as important today as it was 90 years ago.

The Russell Group number 24 of the top UK universities. These include Oxford, Cambridge, Exeter, Durham and Imperial College London. They, with others, especially value facilitating subjects, which are: • Maths • English Lit. • English Lang. • History

• Geography • Languages • all Sciences.

Grades Grades are just as relevant as subjects; and there’s no point having good

£15

To find out more or join please call me, Monika on 0208 567 5613 or e-mail monika@ealingwoodcraft.org. uk. See also www.woodcraft.org.uk.

Group nights run for about an hour.

Choosing A-Levels It is very important to make the correct choice of A-Levels if you are considering going on to University.

Activities include non-competitive games, craft, music, art, discussions, learning about the environment and much more. We ask for a donation of £2 per session. In summer we have about four weekend camps and a week’s camp in the school holidays. We also use the Woodcraft Folk’s residential centre in Cudham, South of London when it is too cold to camp. We have room in nearly all groups!

By Devi Joshi

(hard) subjects without good grades. Oxford and Cambridge Universities require a minimum of 3 A’s, or A*, A*, A combinations for certain courses such as medicine, dentistry and law. Additional considerations Almost as important as your grades is your personal statement. First impressions count – that’s an understatement. Almost 70-80% of your personal statement should be relevant to the subject you are applying for – so you need lots of evidence of your enthusiasm/passion for a subject. • For example: If you’re interested in sciences, visit the Science Museum,

read about it, join the Royal Institute of Science and attend talks, start a blog or youtube channel, etc. 3 Tips: • Read • Explore your local city and engage with a passion • Log any experiences you’ve had log details of your involvement in projects, keep programmes or printed material of projects you’ve been involved with, take photos wherever you can and get these printed, print out blogs, keep a list of websites you’ve been mentioned on, etc.... All this will be useful for you when making your personal statement and at your interview.

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Brazilian Martial Arts All too often when music, dance and exercise are combined the outcome is usually a standard aerobic class. However when you incorporate history, culture, combat, philosophy, live music, harmonies, acrobatics and family values you get Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art. All these ingredients can be a winning recipe for a balanced, healthy lifestyle. NP reporter Michael Holmes talked to Instructor Marcus Cabeca, Head Teacher of AXE CAPOEIRA UK. How did AXE Capoeira UK start? Well, Michael from 1996, I was encouraged to take up Capoeira. Having started training in my home city Sao Paulo, Brazil, the family values which my Master passed to me, together with self-awareness and discipline were among the attributes, which drove me to continue the martial art. Sadly, I had a very bad accident in 1999 but having recovered I was fit enough to restart training in 2001. With strong will and determination in 2006, I formed AXÉ Capoeira UK in Kingston and went on to teach Capoeira in Ealing in 2009.

community who strongly opposed slavery. It was in these communities that Capoeira was also used to fight off intruders, mainly soldiers from the sugar cane farms. The word Capoeira means GRASS, where the habitants of the Quilombos would hide themselves in a strategy to win against the cavalry. Capoeira can be a full contact martial art but unlike others, we spar to music. What achievements has AXE attained so far? We have around 40 to 50 members attending training sessions 3 days a week across two boroughs. Classes take place at Twyford Sports Centre and Acton High School for ages 7 and above. The graduation system is like most martial arts and consists of grading. Instead of a belt we use a rope (corda). Beginner’s rope is what we call raw – no colour. Several colours are awarded during the training leading

What can you tell me about the martial art’s origins? Capoeira originated in Africa and migrated to Brazil through slavery. It was created as a fight for freedom on the sugar cane farms. The slaves would fight with each other but hiding these movements as a dance when the slave masters were around. When slaves escaped from the farms, they created their own territories, known as Quilombo’s. These communities would consist of Blacks, Indigenous and White people making it a very mixed

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to Grand Mestre – a white rope to symbolise peace. AXÉ UK takes part in the International Youth Arts Festival; and the National All Styles Martial Art competitions. Recently AXÉ UK took home 16 trophies, 3 of which were awarded to Ealing students: Fardin Faim 13, Dylan Andrade 15 and Stefan Braveboy 21. How does AXÉ UK fund itself? We receive funding from Kingston University and Ealing Council. In return, we have created a programme that funds the training of 8 children who would otherwise not be able to train. So if you like dancing, singing, playing the drums or just jumping high in the air, then Capoeira could be for you! For more information, see www.axecapoeirauk.com.