Community activities supported by housing association giant Peabody are returning to Windmill Park in Southall following a slowdown in the years after the pandemic. Sports, gardening and family events are also taking place at Westcott Park and Friary Park in Acton.
At Windmill Park Community Centre, the holiday activities and food programme has returned after several years of reduced activity. Peabody told EALING.NEWS that while some activities continued following the pandemic, including multi-sports clubs run by Sporting Inspirations, the wider programme had slowed down.
Sports sessions at Windmill Park are continuing during the school year, with further activities planned for the December and Easter school holidays.
During the summer holidays, local organisation Sonshine Smiles CIC provided free arts and crafts, music and DJ sessions, while Sporting Inspirations organised sports activities.
Families also attended a community fun day in August, featuring football, Zumba, games and crafts. The event was attended by the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Faduma Mohamed, and Councillor John Martin.
Speaking at the event, Councillor Mohamed said: “As a resident in Southall, we don’t divide ourselves by where we’re from, our languages, or cultures – we are one unit, one family and we stick together no matter what.
“When we come together and we work together, our voices are heard.”
At Westcott Park in Acton, Sonshine Smiles and Sporting Inspirations also ran holiday activities, while the Westcott Community Garden Group held a community fun day with support from EastWest Connect and Our Moving Stories.
The London Beekeepers Association spoke to residents about urban beekeeping and the community garden’s 10 community hives.
Meanwhile, at Friary Park, Letting Grow CIC has been running planting, growing and nature activities for around a year as part of the Community Garden Project.
Residents have also come together for a community harvest event to celebrate what they have grown.
Emma Hanbury, community investment lead for North West London at Peabody, said: “It’s great to see activities happening at Windmill Park again and, importantly, to see residents helping to shape what comes next.
“Residents told us they wanted a welcoming local space with more opportunities for children, young people and families. We’ve worked with local organisations to respond to that, and we’re continuing to build on the activities that have already taken place.”
