I have seen how foodbanks have become the hub of some people’s lives as they struggle to make ends meet and put food on the table.

Ealing Foodbank (its Hanwell centre is pictured above) provides you with a worthwhile way to get involved in the community because its centres in Northolt and Southall are in particular need of new volunteers. The council is one of the foodbank’s main referral partners and, last year, I took some donations from council staff.

As you can read on pages 10-11 of the February/March edition of Around Ealing and in the EalingNewsExtra full-length feature story, the foodbank is a registered charity run by volunteers and relies on donations to help feed the increasing number of people finding it hard to make ends meet. Please read the article to find out how you might be able to help.

Brexit does not change how welcome people are

Brexit has been chaotic and who knows where we will be with it all by the time you read this?

But I wanted to assure the tens of thousands of EU citizens living and contributing to the public life and economic wellbeing of our borough that they are all welcome here.

These are our neighbours and colleagues; people who work in all our public services, including the NHS, schools, colleges, university and the council. And the uncertainty they have had to endure has been unacceptable.

The council’s website has a dedicated page with some guidance that might help, at www.ealing.gov.uk/brexit

You can read what I wrote on the subject previously in an earlier blog, including why we have joined many others in calling for a People’s Vote.