Ealing council is inviting community groups and organisations to apply for funding to turn their ideas to help improve Southall into reality.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available from the Southall Champions Fund for projects that bring people together, improve social behaviour, enhance public facilities, encourage people to live healthier lives and boost the image of Southall’s town centre.

The Southall Champions Fund financed eight projects in its first round, announced last spring.

Projects included:

• Healthy eating Southall - where people learnt how to cook traditional recipes with a healthy twist.
• A new specially designed walkway at Norwood Hall to make it easier for older people to walk.
• Tidying up the front of Hambrough Primary School.

Projects that are more likely to receive funding are those from a group, have a long-term benefit for Southall and will involve different groups working together.

The Southall Champions Fund is part of the Southall Big Plan - a project that involves making a series of improvements to Southall over the next five years.

Ealing Council leader, Julian Bell, said: "It is great to see different groups take the lead in making Southall a better place to live, work and visit."

"We were very impressed with the variety of projects funded in the first round from giving people the opportunity to try canoeing to setting up allotments at Western Road."

"I would encourage groups to apply for funding now and join the growing pool of people working to improve life in Southall."

To apply for funding, groups should email a proposal (no more than 300 words) to Shehzad Ahmed, ahmedshe@ealing.gov.uk by 5pm 20 December 2013. Proposals must outline what the project is about, what it aims to achieve and what other groups will be involved. Ideas will be short-listed and successful applicants will be invited to submit a more detailed proposal to bid for funding.

The total funding available is £36,000. For more information see www.southallbigplan.com