Cadent Gas funds ten warm hubs to keep vulnerable residents safe and warm this winter
22/10/24
Thanks to funding from Cadent Gas, ten community organisations in Harrow will be able to run Warm Hubs for vulnerable residents this winter, providing not just a warm, welcoming space but raising awareness about safety and keeping well. Read More
Cadent’s Centres for Warmth support people who are living in vulnerable situations, providing community centres with funding, resources and training to expand the service and trusted advice they offer to vulnerable households.
Lucy Nembaware from Cadent, attended one of the hubs being run by the African Cultural Association last week, handing out free carbon monoxide detectors and talking to visitors about gas safety.
As well as guest speakers covering topics such as health, safety and finances, the African Cultural Centre’s warm hub will be providing hot meals, keep fit classes, arts and crafts activities and games to over 40 people every week from their base in Canons Community Centre in Stanmore.
Marjorie Manu from the African Cultural Association said, “The people coming to the warm hub really benefit from having somewhere safe and warm they can come every week. They make friends and we get to know each other, which then makes it easier to offer advice and help.”
Phil Burrows, Cadent’s Head of Customer Vulnerability Social Programme said, “Alongside the improvement works we have been carrying out [in Harrow]…we are delighted to be able to support individuals in vulnerable situations – especially as we progress towards the winter period.”
Thanks to funding from Cadent, the hubs – which are open to everyone and offer safe, welcoming spaces, will be supported for the next 18 months. Age UK Harrow and Brent has also been funded as the project’s advice partner.
Rachel Wright, from Harrow Giving, adds “We have seen the awful tragedies in the news of gas-related accidents in people’s homes, so we want to make sure nothing like that happens in Harrow. This funding from Cadent will support vulnerable people to keep both warm and safe this winter.”
Visit www.harrowgiving.org.uk/hubs to find out which hubs are running, search by date or location and see what’s on offer.
Dream-like photograph of Kodak chimney wins Harrow Photographer of the Year 2024
Katie Everton with her winning photograph
03/10/2024
From over 100 entrants to this year’s competition, Katie Everton has scooped the Judge’s Award for Harrow Photographer of the Year with her beautiful photograph of the Kodak chimney, taken from Headstone Manor. Katie, who was a runner-up in last year’s competition, was responding to this year’s theme ‘This is our story’. Read More
Katie says, “This chimney is the last remaining part of the old Kodak factory and it means a lot to me as a photographer who still shoots on film. It makes me smile every time I see it. My Great Aunt and other family members used to work in the factory. I was told many stories of how the factory used to thrive at its peak. Even though things change and time moves on, I’m very pleased that the chimney still stands today. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of my Great Aunt and encourages me to keep taking photos.”
Katie was handed her award by Nicole Lyster from Harrow Open Studios, representing the Judging panel and Andy Murphy, from Harrow Giving’s trustee board, at an awards ceremony and private exhibition view at Harrow Arts Centre on Wednesday night. The exhibition is now open to the public in the gallery at Harrow Arts Centre until the 10th October and will then move to different spaces across the borough, including Stanmore Library and the Harrow Art Pod.
The People’s Choice winner – voted for by the public at community shows this summer, was Pratik Goyal for his photograph, ‘Lion in the den’, taken of the view of Wembley Stadium through the buildings on Harrow on the Hill. The photograph was a talking point at the fairs both because of how many loved that view, but also because of the interesting orange lighting, which evoked thoughts of distant smog and of Harrow being the gateway and sentry tower for the wider city behind.
The winner of the Young Photographer of the Year was Niall Sewell, a student at Nower Hill High School, for his photograph, ‘The death of Print’ – a dramatic photograph commentating on the changed relationship young people have with print media. Niall described his photograph as, ‘a criticism of how we interact with media in the modern day. As we become more obsessed with technology we begin to forget and appreciate physical mediums less, influencing the use of a newspaper… The careful choice of a fish and chips advert on the back directly relates to the phrase “Today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chip paper”.
This year’s exhibition has QR codes to scan to read the stories behind each photograph. Dates and locations as it moves around the borough will be available on our website – www.harrowgiving.org.uk/photographer
Announcing the winners of our summer creative writing competition
Story writing competition entries
27/09/2024
This summer, Harrow Giving invited children and young people visiting the big community fairs to enter a competition to find the most creative story set in Harrow, and the entries did not disappoint… Read More
There were so many great entries, we decided to split the competition into three age categories. The winning entries were…
7 and under category
Mihanil, (aged 5) with their story ‘Tiger’, written at Headstone Manor Village Show
Highly commended were
Katie Mae Eames, (aged 6), with her story ‘Superhero Puppy’, written at Canons Park Fun Day and
Aiden (aged 2!) with his story, ‘Santa comes to town’, written at Headstone Manor Village Show
Junior category
Hazel Pannu (aged 8) with her story ‘Honestly’, written at Canons Park Fun Day
Highly commended were
James Kada (aged 10) with his story, ‘The Midnight Fox’, written at at Canons Park Fun Day and
Aiden Bookallil-Cronje (aged 10) with his story, ‘Harrow is my home’, written at Headstone Manor Village Show
Over 11 category
Yasmin Jadran and Hanna McFadden (aged 12 and 13) with their story ‘Barefoot Believers’ written at Headstone Manor Village Show
High commended were
Shivanii (aged 16) with her story ‘Small Town Glory’, written at Roxyfest and
Emma Bartlett (aged 16) with her story, ‘Why have you foresaken Harrow?’, written at Roxyfest
Congratulations to all the winners – prize bundles should be on their way to you – if you haven’t heard from us, please get in touch.
Harrow community groups trained in reportage photography!
Community Photography class of 24
23rd July 2024
13 community groups have just completed training with professional photographer and university lecturer, Niaz Maleknia, learning how to take photographs that capture the story and impact of their work.
The training was provided free by Harrow Giving as part of the Harrow Photographer of the Year project. Read More
Ros Jenkins, the Communications and Engagement Manager for the charity explains, “Photos can really bring the great work these groups do to life, helping to raise more donations and support. But small charities can’t afford to have a professional photographer on standby all the time! So, we decided to do the next best thing and give staff and volunteers from these groups the skills to take great photographs themselves.”
Reportage photography is the skill of taking a photo that tells a story – or that brings a story to life; powerful photographs, full of meaning and emotion. Flaviana Manta from RCCT (Romanian Culture and Charity Together) said, “I loved this project – it was a privilege meeting everyone and Niaz was a wonderful person, teaching skills that are really valuable.”
Some of the participants plan to put their new skills to the test straight away by entering Harrow Photographer of the Year competition. The theme this year is ‘This is our Story’, so alongside their photos, people are being asked to describe the story or memory behind the images. This could be something creative or simply a striking image that is important to the person taking the photo. Anyone is able to enter – even those using smartphone cameras. The deadline for entries is 1st August via the website www.harrowgiving.org.uk/photographer
Community Hubs to offer a cool welcome during the hot summer months
17th July 2024
15 organisations have been awarded grants from Harrow Giving to extend their community hubs through the summer.
Thanks to funding from the Harrow Borough Based Partnership, the hubs – which are open to everyone and offer safe, welcoming spaces, will be able to continue for the summer months – offering cool refuges as the temperatures soar. Read More
Community Hubs have made a huge difference to people across the borough over winter, offering not only warmth, but often food, friendship, health checks and even exercise and mental health support. Rachel Wright, from Harrow Giving said, “we realised that actually, the impact of the warm hubs is as much about tackling social isolation and poor health as simply providing winter warmth, so we are delighted that the HBBP has offered this additional funding to keep some of the hubs going over the summer months, especially as heat waves are just as challenging to vulnerable residents as winter cold!”
Visit www.harrowgiving.org.uk/hubs to find out which hubs are running near you, search by date or location and see what’s on offer. You can also view the video to see five of the hubs in action.
The full list of hubs to receive continuation funding is:
African Cultural Association
Carib and Co Brunch CIC
Firm Foundation
Harrow Association of Disabled People
Harrow Carers
Horizon Youth and Community Action
Hotspot Community CIC
My Yard
North Harrow Community Library (NHCL)
Oshwal Association of UK – North West Area
Pinner Synagogue
RCCT CIC
Resourceful Women’s Network
The Disability Foundation
The Romanian and Eastern European Hub
Harrow Photographer of the Year 2024 opens for entries
1st July 2024
After a hugely successful maiden year, Harrow Photographer of the Year has reopened for entries.
The competition is open to everyone from experienced photographers to enthusiasts with a smartphone. This year, to tie in with our Stories from Harrow project, the theme is ‘This is our story’. Read More
Entrants could win £250 – split between themselves and a local charity of their choice, as well as a place in the autumn exhibition.
Last year, the competition was won by Peter Keeble, whose brilliant photograph of Wealdstone ‘More In Common Than What Divides Us’ wowed the judges. The ‘People’s Choice’ winner was Bill Chalmers, with ‘Sunset over Newton Park’ – voted for by visitors to the Harrow Giving tent at the summer community fairs.
The competition isn’t just for adults – young people 18 or under will compete for the title of Harrow Young Photographer of the Year. Last year some of the entries for Young Photographer could have even given the adults a run for their money!
Last year was brilliant – we had such a diverse range of photos, and it really felt like a feel-good celebration of Harrow. This year we are challenging people to enter photos that tell their story – perhaps a place that has special significance to them, or the community that made them who they are.
The deadline for submissions is 1st August, Take a look at last year’s winning photographs, find guidance and support to help you to take a great photo and enter the competition on our website.
Celebrating small community organisations in Harrow
24th June 2024
From 24th-28th June we are celebrating Small Charity Week, by highlighting all the amazing things small charities and community groups are doing in Harrow.
Harrow Giving exists to help the little guys – we raise money, find volunteers and other support for organisations who might not be big enough to do this themselves, so Small Charity Week is really important for us. Read More
Last week, we brought over 100 people from small organisations and stakeholders such as funders, policy makers and politicians together to learn and share ideas. Four organisations ran workshops at the event, including the Josh Hanson Trust, whose session called, ‘Trauma Informed Art: using art to support mental health and wellbeing’, saw participants introduced to a powerful technique using drawing that they could use in their own lives, or when supporting members of the community.
We have also produced a film, ‘Small Charities Are Brilliant’ to share with the public, showing some of the great things happening across our borough.
Take a look at our Small Charity Week page for the video – and some great clips from the event.
Competition to celebrate five years of Harrow’s community lottery
4th May 2024
Five years ago Harrow Council and Harrow Giving launched Harrow Wins – Harrow’s Community Lottery. The lottery has grown to include 77 charities and community organisations and this month as well as celebrating its 5th birthday, Harrow Wins will have raised an amazing £65,000 for good causes.
To celebrate, Harrow Giving are running a prize draw – anyone playing Harrow Wins during May will be entered into a draw to win a £250 voucher donated by B&M. Read More
Tickets for the lottery are just £1 (of which 60p goes to good causes in Harrow) and there’s a top prize of £25,000 every week.
New charities and community organisations joining Harrow Wins during May can also sign up for free printed resources to help get their fundraising off to a flying start.
Some groups have used the funds they’ve raised through Harrow Wins to bolster existing services, making up for shortfalls in other funding streams. Marilyn Norman, from Mind in Harrow, said, “we have used funds raised through Harrow Wins to support Harrow’s only Mental Health Helpline and Information Service – helping thousands of people every year.”
Other groups have used the funds to run extra activities. Duncan Wakeling from 13th Roxeth Scout Group said, “we have been involved with the Harrow lottery for a while now and the income generated for little effort by us is amazing. We have used the funds raised to support many of our activities including Sailing and camping.”
It can be really hard to raise ‘core’ funds for community groups – the essential yet less exciting costs that underpin all the work that groups do. Chandos Park Community Group have used the steady income from Harrow Wins to help with expenses such as printing and laminating of flyers for events, as well as refreshments for volunteers.
There are 77 groups currently registered with Harrow Wins representing a huge variety of different causes in the borough. But Rachel Wright, from Harrow Giving, would like to see this increase: “We are seeing organisations who’ve signed up just 15 supporters raising £700 per year! In particular we’d love to see more school PTAs and Scout and Guide groups getting involved.”
Buy a ticket to enter the prize draw, or read more about how to sign up as an organisation.