Southall has enjoyed a lively month of community activity, with cultural celebrations, new facilities, and local forums giving residents plenty of opportunities to come together.

One of the highlights was the annual Onam festival celebration, held on Saturday 6 September at Featherstone High School. Organised by the British Keralites Association (BKA), the event marked the harvest festival of Kerala in South India.

It drew a large audience and was attended by Deirdre Costigan MP, Lord Tony Young, and Cllr John Martin, underlining the festival’s growing significance in Southall’s multicultural calendar.

The month also saw the latest Southall Community Alliance (SCA) Community Forum. Chaired by Vice Chair Harsev Bains, the meeting covered a range of local concerns. Carrie Deacon presented the council’s Connected Communities vision, sparking a lively debate on issues such as fly-tipping and the shortage of community centres. Inspector Leigh Ballard of the Met Police gave an update on policing work in the area, with residents contributing their own views and experiences.

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Beyond the meetings and festivals, Southall witnessed a series of developments in its green spaces.

At Western Road, a new community growing space has been launched with allotment plots, a polytunnel, and a community orchard. The project was supported by Southall Community Alliance (SCA) and partners, giving schools and youth groups fresh opportunities to learn about food growing and healthy living.

Volunteers also joined a Community Day at the Western Road Urban Garden, organised by GoodGym in partnership with SCA, to clear, plant, and maintain the site.

Residents on the Havelock Estate saw the opening of the “Open Havelock” hub, a new centre that includes a children’s learning area, a community kitchen, and rooms for workshops, wellbeing sessions, and youth outreach. The facility was developed with the backing of local community organisations and housing partners, offering a much-needed space for families and groups.

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Southall’s canal-side areas are also benefiting from investment. A new wetland and community garden has been created at Glade Lane Canalside Park, part of the Grand Union Canal Wellbeing Way project led by the Canal & River Trust with support from local groups. The initiative is designed to boost biodiversity, encourage walking, and improve mental and physical health for residents.

Alongside these headline projects, Southall Community Alliance continues to deliver ongoing programmes such as Southall Connect, tackling social isolation and building cohesion; Plant to Plate, which encourages healthy cooking and food growing; and youth-focused initiatives that explore heritage and give young people a stronger voice.

These developments highlight how Southall’s community groups and volunteers are working together to make the town greener, healthier, and more connected — ensuring residents have spaces and opportunities to thrive.

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Upcoming Events in Southall (October 2025)

Here are a few events coming up in Southall that may interest residents:

• Canal Clear-Up: Bankside, Southall — Volunteer-led clean-up of the canal towpath and Hayes Bridge mural.
• Let’s Walk – Havelock Canal Walk — A guided walk along the Grand Union Canal, organised by local groups.
• Yoga in the Park (Southall Park) — Outdoor yoga sessions on weekend mornings, open to all ages and levels.
• Local Market Day & Music Jam at Parkside Yards — An informal community market and live music afternoon.

Photo credit: The Western Road Urban Garden has produced a lot of food that the Southall Community Alliance have distributed locally this year.