Discover our history - Paddington Development Trust

PHOTO COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER ACADEMYAcademystudents run toraise moneyEight students fromWestminster Academy joinedEd Balls, Secretary of Statefor Children, Schools andFamilies, to run the equivalentof a marathon and raisemoney for Children In Need.In November, the studentstravelled to the Department forChildren, Schools and Familiesand met Balls in the basementgym. They each had to run atleast a mile on the treadmill, andsome of them ran two miles.Westminster Academy student,Tyrell Joseph Campbell with Ed Balls.In total 26 miles were run, theequivalent of a marathon. Over£2000 was raised for ChildrenIn Need.Westminster Academy has beenon a drive to increase the amountof physical education its studentsare doing. There are now sportsclubs before school, at lunch timeand every day after school.It has also increased the varietyof sports on offer and has girlsonlysports sessions, boxercise,golf, cricket, badminton, dance,and futsall (Brazilian stylefootball), in addition to the morecommon school sports.For information on Westminster Academyvisit www.westminsteracademy.bizFor information on the Department forChildren, Schools and Families visitwww.dcsf.gov.ukPHOTO COURTESY OF PADDINGTON ACADEMYEntrepreneur and Dragon’sDen judge Peter Jones visitedPaddington Academy in Januaryto launch this year’s Make YourMark with a Tenner challenge.The scheme loans young people £10and challenges them to make as muchprofit and social impact as they canduring the month of March. You justhave to show some enterprising spiritand make as much profit as possible ina way which benefits your community.Last year there were 16,000 under19s from schools, colleges and youthgroups across the UK taking part, andthis year there will hopefully be evenmore. The judges choose the nationalwinners in April, with an awardceremony in late April or early May.Paddington Academy studentsfrom years 10 and 11 in the SocialEnterprise Class told Peter Joneshow they’re ‘making their mark’ byproducing and selling food.They began by selling popcorn atthe Academy’s pantomime, wherethey sold out, and then reinvested theprofits to make more exciting dishesthemed around popular holidays suchas Valentine’s and Pancake Day.It’s helped them to gain a betterunderstanding of profit, market research,ethical sourcing, marketing, and ofDragon’s Den judge Peter Jones (centre) challengesPaddington Academy students to make their mark, aspart of the Make Your Mark with a Tenner challenge.A Dragon in PaddingtonPHOTO COURTESY OF PADDINGTON ACADEMYcourse, has greatly developed theircookery skills! All their profits will go toa charity at the end of the year.Students taking part in the competitionwill receive a certificate outlining theskills they develop. The winning teamwill be given some start up capitaland support from a business mentor todevelop their entrepreneurial ideas.The Make Your Mark with a Tennerproject is part of Enterprise UK’s MakeYour Mark campaign. The campaignruns groups, clubs and challenges,and offers teacher and student supportto get enterprising thinking startingin schools. There is also a furthereducation programme to continuethe work, and a project to work withdisadvantaged young people.For more information, call the Tenner Team on020 7430 8053, email tenner@enterpriseuk.orgor visit www.enterpriseuk.org/tenner For moreinformation on Paddington Academy visitwww.paddington-academy.org.ukPaddington Academy students are makingtheir mark by producing and selling food.PHOTO COURTESY OF SHIRLEY GRANAShirley Grana received an award for changing the lives of younger peopleat the Westminster City Council’s Neighbourhood Leadership Awards.And the winner is...Harrow Road NeighbourhoodPartnership (HRNP) won ‘Best UKNeighbourhood Renewal Programme2009’ in the International Journalof Neighbourhood Renewal (IJNR)Annual Awards.IJNR editor Ray Holden said, ‘Wewere delighted with the responsewe received from the people wespoke to locally about HRNP. Thisorganisation delivers real hands-onand impactful services to its residentsand is an excellent example of goodpractice in the heart of a community.’HRNP’s Neighbourhood RenewalManager Julie Bundy says, ‘Wegenuinely feel that some local issueshave begun to shift by workingtogether with both residents andbusinesses in the Harrow Road, andwe are delighted that IJNR has givenus the opportunity to celebrate this.’In an exciting start to 2010, localresident Shirley Grana was honouredfor ‘changing the lives of youngerpeople’ in Westminster CityCouncil’s Neighbourhood LeadershipAwards. Shirley won the award basedon nearly 30 years of voluntary workwith local young people, includinglife skills coaching, lecturing atschools and helping young people toaccess the arts.The four winning residents beat offtough competition from a list of 380nominations, and collected their prizesin front of dozens of community andCouncil leaders during Westminster’sPublic Services Awards Ceremony.Shirley said, ‘I was so shocked whenI found out; I really didn’t think I’dget shortlisted as there are loads ofpeople who do wonderful things. I’mso happy and proud and genuinelythrilled to know that kids I’ve knownsince they were very young andhave been through my youth accessprojects are now at university or ingreat jobs – that’s the most importantthing for me.’Well done Shirley for helping to putHarrow Road on the map! If youwould like to make your mark and getinvolved with your community, takeadvantage of HRNP’s award-winningopportunities for resident involvement.Whether you’re looking forinformation on ways to get chatting toyour neighbours or involved with localresident groups, interested in becominga ‘Streetrep’, or willing to share dinnerwith the Partnership team to advise ontheir future work, you can get involved.Visit www.harrowroadblog.com call 0208968 5543 or drop in to 421 Harrow RoadW10 to find out how you can get involved.PRERNA UPPALIt’s mybusinessQuick StitchThree months ago, SylwiaWojciechowska and hermother Mariola unveiled theiralteration and tailoring shopand it’s become an instant hitwith local residents.For Sylwia, one reason for itssuccess is its location, right in frontof a bus stop on Shirland Road.‘It caught the attention of a lotof people who catch buses fromhere. Also, it’s easy for them todrop off or pick up their orderson their way to or from home,’Sylwia says. She believes that incatering exclusively to tailoringand alteration needs, they arecarving a niche for themselves.Sylwia’s alteration andtailoring shop, QuickStitch, is an instant hitwith local residents.‘We do all kinds of alterations,including making clothes to order,bridal alterations, etc,’ says Sylwia,adding that a list of their servicescan be seen on their web site.Competitive pricing and same daydelivery on request are two otherpoints that have helped them attractcustomers. In the next couple ofmonths, Sylwia plans to start adelivery and pickup service andoffer a ‘fitting at home’ option. Shealso hopes to showcase the work oflocal designers in her shop.Quick Stitch187 Shirland Road W9020 7121 0333www.quickstitch.euOpen Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 9am-5.30pmWed 11am-7pm and Sat 10am-3pm1415