Apple pie could be first on the menu when a new and improved kitchen is installed in a much-loved community centre.
APPLE, a charity that provides activities and events for young people has now received enough funding to build a new kitchen that will make a big difference to the community.
It secured almost £10,000 from Ealing Council’s Ealing Together Fund (ETF). It went more than half way towards hitting its£19,492 goal earlier this year, which has now been reached.
The ETF is a crowdfunding opportunity that encourages the community to take the lead on projects that are built on local knowledge. And it aims to empower people who have the respect and trust of their community to make positive changes.
APPLE is based in the ARTBLOCK in Acton Park and recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. It has a very small but well-used kitchen that will be now be transformed into a bigger and better space.
The centre is open 6 days a week and, on 5 of those days, it provides regular freshly cooked meals to the young people who go there. The staff also offer a host of other activities, such as arts and sport.
Healthy meals and cooking lessons
Abigail Leitao used to attend APPLE as a child and now, in adulthood, has become a valued member of staff.
She said: “The need for the meals that we are providing here has been increasing a lot over the last year, a combination of COVID and the cost of living crisis. And using our little kitchen is becoming more and more difficult. We want to provide young people with a healthy meal as well as teaching them how to cook. And they get a say in what we cook.
“The new kitchen means the kids will be able to get more involved in the cooking and we will be able to provide for more children.”
‘The staff do such amazing work’
APPLE was one of 8 community groups to receive a share of the latest £50,000 pot of ETF funding.
Councillor Polly Knewstub, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities, added: “This is such a great resource for the community and the council is really pleased to have been able to support them in this project for a new kitchen.
“The staff do such amazing work. I’d definitely encourage people to find out more about all of the different things they do there.”
The mayor of Ealing, Councillor Hitesh Tailor, has chosen APPLE as his first charity of the year.
