Ealing Common Garden officially opened

Ealing Common provides a home and support for 26 young people aged 16 to 35.  During their stay the residents receive advice and training to find jobs as well as a place of their own to live. On Friday 12th September Cllr. Ian Green, Mayor of Ealing, opened the new garden at West London YMCA’s Ealing Common housing project.

At 18 meters square, the garden is quite large. Its transformation was a partnership project with the Ealing Rotaract Club.  The challenge was to turn a bare patch of grass and trees rarely used by the residents, into an enjoyable place to sit and relax. The garden project was a large undertaking, both in terms of design, and the hard labour needed to develop it.  Ealing Rotaract accepted the challenge with relish!

The celebration on Friday 12th September including food and drink provided by Barclays under its staff employee volunteering scheme, was the culmination of 2 years of hard work by all concerned. Housing Project Manager, Shamil Sharshek Ulu, says, “Our young people are thrilled with their new garden.  We’re all grateful to Ealing Rotaract for making it happen!”

To finance this project a total of £3898 was raised by Ealing Rotaract. Ealing Rotaract Past President Mark Jones says "It has been a pleasure to work with the YMCA on such a worthwhile project."