Charity/voluntary

TEENAGERS from across Harrow have enrolled on a volunteering course that was launched in Edgware and is tied into the 2012 Olympics Games.
Up to 40 youngsters aged 14 to 19 joined the Harrow School Sports Leadership Academy 2010 through which they will undertake 20 hours of volunteering, such as helping out in physical education lessons at primary, assisting at after school clubs or providing reports on sport fixtures.

Come along to Barnays Memorial Hall in Stanmore (next to Sainsbury's) on Wednesday 17th February from 7.45pm -9.15pm to join guest speaker Paul Roche.

A lecture on around the world topics ranging from science and consciousness to the holistic principles of life and health with great depth, clarity and humour will be given by Dr Prashant Kakode on Wednesday 25th November from 7.45 - 915pm.

Music at St Lawrence's, Whitchurch Lane, Canons Park. The Grier sisters are playing on Sunday 15th November at 3.00 pm. Admission £5 includes refreshments in the Church Hall after the concert.

THE creator of a comedy workshop has become the poster boy - and role model - for a new campaign to encourage people into volunteering.
Rui Jorge, 21, of Homefield Road, Edgware, is one of four young people to be chosen as the face of the 'Good for Nothing' project from volunteering charity 'v' (CORR).
He started a stand-up comedy club, Grab Your Mike, to provide teenagers with the opportunity to improve their confidence and public speaking skills through the innovative medium of comedy.
Seven sessions have been held at a hall in Station Road, Edgware, and another five are planned this month.
Through the publicity material - posters, videos and a profile on the web - Rui has become a local celebrity and getting recognised hasn't phased the young man, who is already well known in the area.
Commenting on his new found fame, Rui said: "Publicity is important, it backs up what I'm saying."
The poster boy explains that being recognised is a good thing as it shows local youngsters that someone from their own community is making it big and aiming high is not impossible.
As the eldest of seven children, Rui has always enjoyed looking after those around him.
After attending Deansbrook Junior School in Edgware, then completing his A levels at Edgware School, now London Academy, the 21-year-old attended Brunel University in Uxbridge to study business management accounting.
However, while away studying, Rui had concerns for his siblings due to crime and the stabbing of a friend made him realise that he wanted to make his community a better place and turned the enjoyment of helping others into a vocation.
Rui realised that he could do so much more than academics: "I was sitting in my room studying accountancy and realised there was more to life. At this time, it's your actions that count."
Not always the self-assured young man he is now, Rui grew more confident when he had to approach people to promote the Brunel Entrepreneurs Society events.
"I found it tough at first, I wasn't used to it.  The more I did it, the more I overcame my fears and it pushed me to gain confidence."
With this experience, he was encouraged to apply to 'v' to put into place a training programme where young people learn essential social skills such as public speaking through practising performance comedy.
Rui proudly said the motivations for his work are the very people he assists.
"I've always had the desire to help others. They inspire me."
n If you want to get involved with this campaign go to www.vinspired.com for more information

1st Queensbury Rainbows Christmas Table Sale is being held at The Rochdale Scout Centre, Roch Ave, Edgware on Friday 13th November from 5.30 - 8pm.

WORKERS across the borough wore pink on Friday (30/10) at the culmination of 31 days of fundraising for Breakthrough Breast Cancer's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Patients and clinicians at private hospital The Clementine Churchill Hospital in Sudbury Hill, Harrow on the Hill, generated £360 after participants donned the signature colour and sold pink cupcakes.
Organiser Nicky Bhatt, women's health physiotherapist, said: "It's been a great success and the informal atmosphere has encouraged patients to form friendships and on going support outside the realms of the hospital."
Employees at Preston Bennett estate agents' branch in Church Road, Stanmore, shed their usual suited and booted image in aid of 'Wear It Pink' day.
Press spokesman Jeff Galatin said: "Estate agents sometimes have a reserved image, but the company revealed its fun pink side".
In wearing the fuchsia attire, they have so far raised £250 and are expecting more funds to follow.
Throughout October, staff at Debenhams in Station Road, Harrow, wore pink T-shirts and customers ate pink glittery fairy cakes in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Alongside the fundraising, staff handed out cards promoting breast cancer awareness and store spokesperson Nicola Trucker said it was "a good feeling to see people go the extra mile".
Last year, Breakthrough Breast Cancer raised £3.5million nationwide for 'Wear It Pink' day.

FIFTEEN volunteers are needed to pick up a paddle and take part in dragon boat race to raise cash for the UK's only specialist hospital for colorectal disease.
St Mark's Hospital Foundation, which supports St Mark's Hospital in Watford Road, Harrow, has entered a team into the 12th Rotary Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday May 17 but the original scheduled participants have had to pull out.
Dragon boat racing involves a crew of around 20 sitting two abreast in a long canoe-like boat and paddling in synchronism to the sound of a drum beat.
The races will take place on the River Thames at the Docklands Sailing Centre located at the Millwall Outer Dock in south-east London between 10am and 3pm.
An entry fee of £10 per person is required along with a minimum guaranteed sponsorship of £100, and all participants get a T-shirt.
n For more information and to register, call Maxine McNeil, the foundation's fundraising manager, on 020 8869 2371 or email maxine.mcneil@nwlh.nhs.uk

A CONCERT to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the death of George Frideric Handel was held at the church where he was once composer in residence.
Andrew Benson-Wilson gave an organ recital devoted to the 18th Century musician's compositions at St Lawrence Church in St Lawrence Close, Canons Park, on Sunday.
The performer - who was the first organist to perform on Handel's old organ after it was restored in 1995 - drew on his research into the work of Handel, who died in 1759, and eighteenth century organs.
The event was organised by the Friends of St Lawrence who are raising money for the restoration of the Church paintings.
Handel was composer in residence to the Duke of Chandos, who had the church rebuilt in 1717.

Environmentalists and nature lovers are being asked to help restore a woodland walk in Stanmore.

The Friends of Canons Park are looking for volunteers to join a project to restore the Spinney woodland walk on February 15.

The area runs along one side of the park from the top of Canons Drive to Whitchurch Lane in Edgware.

Co-ordinator Matthew Rooum said: "People can come for as long as they like on the day. Even a couple of hours are invaluable to us, and we provide all the tools, training and light refreshments.

"We meet at 10am and work until the light goes. If anyone is thinking of coming along, please call me in advance so that we can plan the day more effectively."

The project was initially set up with help, advice, tools and training from Groundwork West London, but for the first time the community group is organising it on its own.

The group hopes to clear ivy, tree whips and overgrown shrubs that are preventing the growth of native plants such as bluebells and wild garlic.

For more information contact 020 8952 0479 or visit www.friendsofcanonspark.org.uk