Local business promotion story

By Yixiang Zeng

A business forum was bringing community together through fantatic food and cheerful music yesterday afternoon on Edgware high street.

More than one hundred local residents turned out on the Station Road to celebrate the Music and Food Festival organised by the newly-formed Edgware Business Forum, which aims to promote local businesses.

The event started with a carol concert by the Edgware School children in front of the St Margaret's Church on the Station Road, and then followed by a range of musical groups in different venues along the high street with the offer of free food and drinks provided by the local restaurants.



Forum vice-chairman Peter Dresner, of Peter Adams Furniture shop, said: “The idea is trying to really weaken the awareness of what Edgware is to offer. So during event like this, we offer different things in different places on the road, people will be aware what actually is being offered here.

“People have intended to go to the major malls while they're parking there. It's disappointing we have shops within Edgware that people don't know, and we encourage people realise these shops on the high street.

“It's really great we have children and families coming and enjoy the food and the music, and bring the community together”

Among the cheering crowd enjoyed yesterday's event was Maddy Cordell, a resident from Park Grove in Edgware.



She told The HA1: “In recent times, it seemd to be more events going on like this, it was really great to bring all of these people together and it was a shame for those who didn't join in. Event like this will improve our community spirit.”

The Edgware Safer Neighbourhoods police team also helped organise the event, with Sergeant Dan Reid dressed as Father Christmas and even handed out posters prior to the event.

He said: “We are here to support our local businesses within the community and encourage people to shopping on the station road.

“The event reduces anti-social behaviours and gives youngsters opportunity to perform. It gets people working together to make this area a better place.”

Black conscious music story

By Yixiang Zeng

A talk about black conscious music encouraged young people to reach out their dreams and keep learning to discover their potential.

The talk, organised by Akoben Awards ended this year's Black History Month at Gayton Road Library in Harrow town centre last week.

Rap artist Kimba joined the discussion and talked about his newly produced educational CD 'African History: Did you know?' for the Awards.

The Akoben Awards is an organisation which aims to introduce positive and uplifting black music to the community's youngsters, rather than the stereotypical violent or sexual theme related music.

He introduced a song called Oh This Life is for You to the audience, he said: “The lyrics is about inspiring young people reach their goals.

“It is quite important for black history by encouraging young people to follow their dreams.”

He then pointed out the community's business legend Tony Wade who can act as a role model to help youngsters build up their confidence and self-esteem.

Another highlight during the event was Kimba's introduction to another song called Be a Student, he said: “It is quite important that we all want to learn.

“The more we can learn, the more we can take it better to support the black people here. If we want a better society, we all need to learn.”

Among the audience who enjoyed the talk was 10-year-old Lana Agyeman, a Year Five student from Buxlow Preparatory School in Wembley.

He said: “It is very enjoyable. It gives me more about black music and I like the singing and dance.”

Harrow children meet TV star Peppa Pig

By Yixiang Zeng

Children in Harrow came face-to-face with TV stars Peppa Pig and George on Saturday afternoon.

The event at St Ann’s Shopping Centre attracted hundreds of youngsters who got the chance to have their photos taken with the pair.

11-year-old Jasmine was one of the fans who queued up. She said: “I like the characters, they make me laugh, they’re not serious about what they do and they just play.”

Mum Nina Salami had also brought her child along to meet Peppa and George, who have become a smash since their show first appeared on Channel Five.

Nina said: “They like Peppa Pig because it is a very successful show, very entertaining, educational and funny.”

The characters were brought to St Ann’s as part of a series of half-term activities at the shopping centre.

St Ann’s Manager Suzy Wood said: "We’re thrilled to have Peppa Pig and her brother George come to St Ann’s.

“They are much loved TV personalities and it’s great that families are able to meet them here.”

Mental Health Story - second version

By Yixiang Zeng

A Harrow charity has been organising a training project to get mentally ill people into work and help raise mental health awarenesses within the borough.

The project TrainAware, part of Mind in Harrow's Head for Work, has been recruiting people who suffer from mental illness to become trainers as well as helping locals understand how mental health problems can affect their work and daily life.

Training coordinator Chrystelle Heldire told The HA1 after the World Mental Health Day celebration: “Since September 2008, we were able to start paying our trainers on an hour rate and employ them on a bank basis.”

She explained that trainers' payment is generated partly from the companies who send their employees to the training sessions, and partly from the charity's reserves.

These trainers were educated through a series of methods and were accredited by Middlesex University, who are then able to give training sessions to local employees and help raise their mental health awarenesses.

Chrystelle said: “These methods include brainstorming, how to work with groups and give constructive feedback, how to share plans and goals, presentation and facilitation skills.”

According to her, so far the trainers have already delivered approximately 45 training sessions to a number of local companies and organisations, such as Jobcentre Plus and Aspire, a charity that offers support to an individual who suffers from spinal injuries.

Mark Gillham, Chief executive of Mind in Harrow, said it is important for the companies and trainers to work together, he said: “From the company side, the manager will have better understanding of employees' mental health issues, such as life stress and depression, or not be able to work to their best capacity. So it helps their businesses.

“Trainers will have real work experience, and be able to use their own experience of mental health problem to explain directly what they have been through.”

Another local charity Capable Communities, which co-ordinated this year's World Mental Health Day, also said they want to work closely with companies to get people with mental problems into work.

The president of Harrow in Business Allen Pluck said his organisation has a tradition of helping marginalised individuals.

However, he has his own concerns: “at the moment, the whole of the business support infrastructure is in complete turmoil. And we are struggling to obtain funding to support the survival of any local business or individuals wishing to become self employed.”

Family to take on Everest challenge

An Edgware family are to climb part of Mount Everest to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice.

Five members of the Hindocha family are to take on the mountain’s Base Camp Challenge in October as part of a bid to raise £24,000.

Neha Hindocha, 25, told The HA1 they started fundraising after their grandmother got help from the Kenton hospice in 2009.

“My grandma was very ill for the past thirty years,” she said. “They way they treated her was absolutely incredible.”

The family held a Salsa and Mexican evening last week at the VIP Lounge in Edgware to help fund their trip.

They have already raised £15,000 of their target through events including a trek across the Alps in Switzerland.

Neha’s brother Vishal, 24, said: “The money will pay for nurses and doctors. They receive very little funding from the NHS and almost purely depend on donations. We wish we could give something back to them.”

The family are hoping that their Mount Everest challenge will see them reach their fundraising target.

It is set to be their toughest physical challenge so far and will involve almost two weeks of walking.

Neha said: “We’re trying to go to Box Hill in Surrey, go to the gym, cycling, swimming and walking to increase our endurance.

“We’re climbing to the peak just above the Base Camp, which is 6000 metres over 13 days of trekking.”

You can find out more about their trip and make a donation on the family’s Just Giving page