Charity/voluntary

UNSUNG heroes from Hayes And Harlington are invited into the spotlight as the Gazette and Uxbridge College seek people who have made their mark in the community.

If you know anyone who deserves credit for what they have done in your area - or anywhere in the borough - put them forward now.

Entry is open to all people who live, volunteer, or work here.

Hillingdon's top hero will win £750 on top of the £250 which all category winners receive.
All you have to do is complete a coupon in The Gazette or Leader and return it to: Barbara Fisher, Local Heroes, Gazette, 28 Bakers Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1RG.

Alternatively email barbarafisher@trinitysouth.co.uk Entries must be received by January 23 and shortlisted candidates will be invited to a gala night on February 26.

For more information: phone Barbara Fisher on 01895 451020 Monday-Wednesday only.

Choose from these categories:

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Community Hero-someone who has helped the community, perhaps with a project or campaign.

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Fundraising Hero- any individual or group which has raised money for charity.

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Young Hero- a youngster aged 16 or under who deserves recognition in the community.

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Citizen of Courage-someone who has shown bravery in a difficult situation or achieved a goal against the odds.

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Carer Hero -anyone who has selflessly looked after others.

The overall title Hero of Hillingdon will be chosen from any of the above
category winners.

If you are e-mailing do not forget to name the category and give contact details for both nominee and the person who is nominating.

ELDERLY people can enjoy a Christmas lunch at an event organised by Age Concern.

Anyone over the age of 50 can dig into a festive meal for just £3.50 at the Salvation Army Hall, in Coldharbour Lane, Hayes, from 12.30pm to 3.30pm on December 10.

BRAINIACS and people looking for a fun way to spend an evening are invited to an upcoming charity quiz night in Hayes.

The competition will take place at 9pm on Friday, November 28 at the Brookhouse Social Club, in Kingshill Avenue, and costs just £1 to enter.

Teams should be made up of four people with money going to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The night will also feature a raffle with prizes and signed goodies up for grabs.

DESPERATE requests from residents for advice on dealing with debt have risen dramatically in the last month and are set to continue, according to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Ellie Lawrence, spokesperson for Hillingdon Citizens Advice Bureau, reported that a high number of visitors were seeking help from from their three branches in Hayes, Uxbridge and Ruislip.

She said: "The Hayes office originally opened one day a week, drawing in at least 50 to 60 people. To deal with demand, the office started to open on Tuesday and Thursday, but the same number of people are now turning up on both days.

"Uxbridge gets about 50 visitors when it opens on Wednesday, while Ruislip, which is open on Thursday, gets only about 15 people coming in - but the north of the borough is more affluent, which might explain why there are less requests for financial advice.

"Most people are concerned about increasing debt, particularly in relation to being made redundant or having their homes repossessed."

Discussions are taking place to open the Hayes office for a third day each week, although according to Barry Evans, who works alongside Ms Lawrence, the outlook is bleak.

He said: "The number of visitors used to change very little year on year, but currently it is changing month on month, with demand continually increasing. Nothing can stop people spending at Christmas but ultimately, they will pay the price in January when seasonal positions close and jobs are scarcer."

Meanwhile, calls to M 4 Money, a non-profit organisation which offers financial assistance to borough residents, have doubled in the past month.

Director Graham Tomlin said: "We have received an unprecedented number of calls in the last month with many requesting money for Christmas spending.

"People need to be wary of using store and credit cards, and be aware of the dangers of going to a doorstop lender, who will offer a typical APR of 183 per cent. Loan sharks and pay day lenders usually offer an APR in the region of 1000 per cent - which will dig people further into debt.

"My advice to people struggling financially is to try and pay at least something to each debt, just to keep the wolf out the door.

"With Christmas coming up, people can save cash by taking advantage of store multi-buys or buying pre-owned computer games for the kids."

M 4 Money is currently offering anyone who is unemployed or on benefits a £500 loan with a 26 per cent APR, subject to status.

For more information and advice, call 020 8573 8010.

A CHRISTMAS fayre is being held on Saturday, November 15 at Hayes & Yeading Football Club by the Good Neighbours Club.

The club, which provides meals and days out for the elderly in the area, is looking to raise funds at the fayre which runs from 1pm-4pm at the front entrance of the football club in Church Road, Hayes.

There will be plenty of bargains to be had along with a grand raffle and cakes and refreshments will be available.

SHOEBOXES packed with items like crayons, toys and sweets are being requested for by a Hayes car dealership so it can provide Christmas gifts for children in orphanages and hospitals.

Dagenham Motors in Dawley Road, Hayes, are taking part in the event to support the Samaritan's Purse Charity which last year collected 1.3m boxes from various organisations across England to help youngsters in developing countries.

For more information contact 0208 561 8888 or visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk

A FORMER gangster is using his past experiences to help launch a charity project which aims to tackle social issues affecting young people.

Dave Courtney, who is best known for organising the security at gangster Ronnie Kray's funeral in 1995, visited Hayes this week to help promote the charity project, Free Spirit.

The project was launched at the home of the Mos family - a well respected Muslim family in the community - who live in Halsway.

The director of the charity, Pepe Kaur, accompanied Dave to their home to launch the project which has already been very successful in an area of Kent where it was first set up in October last year.

The ex police officer said: "The project aims to get kids off the street and discover their hidden talents.

"We believe this is a different form of policing and we have challenged issues such as gun crime, racism, domestic violence and diversity.

"With the police there are communication barriers, but with Free Spirit there isn't.

"I am looking to do an arts project and a music project in Hayes early next year.

"It is a good area to start in because we already have the support from the Mos family, but I am hoping to take it everywhere."

Dave, 49, said: "I became a patron of Free Spirit because there's nothing more rewarding than being able to talk to a child and change something in him for the better. I am a pretty good spokesperson for the bad guy and I am proof crime doesn't pay.

"They listen to me because they know I have been in their position and I genuinely feel I have an impact.

"The project is an alternative to crime. You have to force feed them to make them do it but once they see a couple of success stories they will go."

Saif Ullah, 37, a member of the Mos family, said: "We see young children hanging around on street corners not doing anything constructive with their time.

"Instead of them throwing bricks at people's houses and cars they should be doing something they're good at.

"We will help the charity as best as we possibly can."

Go to www.myspace.com/freespirithiddentalent to find out more.

CHILDREN can enjoy spooky Halloween games and face painting as a charity puts on a fundraising event to mark the occasion in Harlington.

People can also buy pumpkins and take part in a raffle to help support Harlington Hospice.

The event will take place at the Scout's Hut, Harlington High Street on October 25 between 12pm to 4pm.
For more information contact 0208 759 0453.

A CHARITY gig has been organised to remember one of the borough's most famous rock musicians and to raise funds for a hospice which helps the terminally ill.

The event is being put on to remember, Paul Fox, the guitarist and co-songwriter with The Ruts, who died of cancer on October 21 last year.

He lived in Hayes and Ruislip during his time in the borough and was also a member of three other bands, Dirty Strangers, Foxy's Ruts, and DubCats.

These three bans will be playing at the gig on October 18 at The Breakspear Arms in Breakspear Road South, Ruislip, from 7pm until late.

A film of Paul Fox playing his guitar in his heyday will also be shown.

There will be a donation admission of £1 or £2 and money will be collected during the evening for Michael Sobell House, based at Mount Vernon Hospital in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood.

A FORMER cancer patient is rallying football fans to raise money for charity at a game this month.

Stephen Ostrowski overcame his battle with cancer two years ago and since then he has helped create a partnership between Hayes and Yeading United Football Club and The Community Cancer Centre in Fairfield Road, Yiewsley.

The event will be held on Saturday, September 20 when Hayes and Yeading United play AFC Wimbledon at Church Road, Hayes, kick off 3pm, in the Blue Square Conference South.

Volunteers from the charity will be going round with fundraising buckets to encourage people to donnate money.

Mr Ostrowski said: "When I was diagnosed with tongue and neck cancer in 2003 I went through an awful time, I couldn't eat for eight months and had to be fed through a tube. I wasn't able to work for two years either and The Community Cancer Centre really helped me get back on my feet psychologically and I just want to help them now in return.

"One of the volunteers who will be raising money on the day is heading the mens prostate cancer group and it's something we want to help raise the awareness of because not many men go to see the doctor even if they suspect something is wrong, so it's really to encourage them to get checked."
He added the money raised on the day will go towards paying for the lease of the charity.

For more information visit www.stevieo.webs.com