Making a Difference Locally: Empowering and celebrating Ealing and Hounslow – #EveryoneMatters
How Ealing and Hounslow CVS empowers the VCSE sector and builds resilient, cohesive communities across West Lodon
We are rooted in the communities we serve across Ealing and Hounslow. Our work is shaped by local relationships, lived experience, and a commitment to practical support that makes a lasting difference. Whether we are strengthening local organisations, creating opportunities for residents, or building partnerships around shared challenges, impact and community support are at the heart of everything we do.
Our Impact in 2024 – 2025
In 2024/25, we continued to support local groups, residents and partnerships across Ealing and Hounslow. Over the year, we supported over 200 local groups, helped over 3,000 residents engage in volunteering, and led work across health equity, community connections, digital inclusion, refugee support and youth activities. Through our infrastructure support, networks and partnerships, we helped local organisations strengthen their capacity, build influence, and respond to changing community needs.
Infrastructure, Development and Capacity Building
In 2024/25, we continued to strengthen the voluntary and community sector through infrastructure support, capacity building, training, voice networks and practical development support.
In Ealing, our Infrastructure and Voice Network work provided tailored one-to-one support to 74 groups, delivered 230 capacity-building sessions, offered 216+ hours of expert consultancy, and ran 33 training sessions for more than 250 staff, volunteers and trustees. Our Ealing Voice Network also held 6 forums, engaging 109 organisations. Through this work, we improved organisational skills and governance, enhanced fundraising skills and income diversification, increased partnership working across sectors, increased reach to underrepresented and marginalised communities, and contributed to a more unified VCSE voice helping shape local policy and service design.
In Hounslow, we supported 138 organisations, delivered 426 one-to-one sessions and 24 training events, and helped secure £2.4 million in external funding. We also hosted 10 Funders Workshops, launched new toolkits, and delivered 5 Voice Network forums engaging 81 groups. This work improved funding success, strategic confidence and collaboration across the borough, as well as financial management and planning, monitoring and evaluation, and the use of data and evidence in funding applications. It also strengthened the sector’s voice and influence in local decision-making and policy making.
Across Ealing and Hounslow we supported organisations in digital transformation by hosting Social Media training sessions. Participating charities reported an average 85% increase in social media engagement with 120+ Canva Pro accounts established. The techniques taught required no additional expenditure for the groups and on average, participants rated the workshops 10/10.
Funding Support
Ealing CVS helped us navigate the complexity of the National Lottery grant. We wouldn’t be here without their technical experience.
Volunteering
The volunteering portal is seamless. I found a role in Hounslow that matches my professional skills perfectly within 48 hours.
Social Media Training
High-quality training right on our doorstep. The social media support is invaluable for tiny charities that can’t afford and agency.
Volunteering
Volunteering remained a major part of our work in 2024/25, supporting both residents and local organisations.
Our Ealing Volunteer Centre engaged over 1,000 residents, supported 52 organisations with volunteer matching and systems, recorded 1,893 volunteer registrations, handled 3,306 enquiries, and placed 1,950 volunteers, representing a 58% placement rate. Through volunteering, residents improved wellbeing, language skills and employability, while local organisations increased their capacity.
Hounslow Volunteers Fair 2025
Our Hounslow Volunteer Centre hosted 13 outreach stalls, registered 1,652 volunteers, handled 3,202 enquiries, achieved a 58% placement rate, and supported 61 organisations with volunteer management systems. This strengthened civic engagement and expanded access to meaningful volunteering roles.
Across the year, we helped over 3,000 residents engage in volunteering, reflecting the scale of volunteering support delivered across both boroughs.
Community Connections and Local Resilience
In 2024/25, community-based activity remained an important part of our work to reduce isolation, strengthen wellbeing and build local resilience.
Through Acton Community Connect, we launched the Acton Connect brand and a live activity calendar, and delivered weekly wellbeing walks, coffee mornings, digital skills sessions and resilience workshops. Delivery was co-designed with 10 local volunteers, and a consortium of 6 grassroots organisations who deliver activities such as food growing and wellbeing, refugee drop in sessions, strength and balance classes amongst others.
Through this work, 756 residents engaged in Acton Community Connect, over 80% reported improved wellbeing and confidence, and digital inclusion and social connection increased, particularly among older adults and migrant communities.
Mums and Youngs Arts Club at Acton Library 2025 and the Acton Connect launch event at Acton Gardens Community Centre
We also with Ealing Council’s Emergency Management Team, the GLA, the British Red Cross, the London Ambulance Service, the Rapid Relief Team, The London Brigade and many other NGOs to deliver four Building Community Resilience events across Ealing. These workshops helped to bridge communication gaps between local groups, residents, and emergency services.
Responding to emergencies workshop in Southall and Greenford 2025
Wellbeing Coffee Mornings – Acton Connect
Since coming to the Tuesday morning meetings, I feel like I’m part of the borough again. It’s more than just coffee; it’s a lifeline for those of us feeling isolated. It’s where I found out about my housing rights and met friends who actually understand my journey.
Building Community Resilience – Workshop 4
I have lived and worked in Ealing for decades. This is the first time that I’ve felt connected to the emergency services in our community.
Health and Wellbeing
In 2024/25, we contributed to a wide range of health and wellbeing work, including community health awareness, co-production, research engagement and support for culturally competent public health leadership.
Through the Public Health Inequalities Programme, we launched the Minoritised Communities Network, which reached 120+ members, hosted 6 events involving 176 participants and 23 speakers, and provided leadership training, one-to-one support and funding briefings. This work built culturally competent leadership and improved community influence on public health decision-making.
Through the Macmillan Ealing Cancer Awareness Project, we trained 95 multilingual Cancer Champions, delivered 116 community events reaching 3,837 residents, collected 1,401 feedback surveys with 94% reporting increased confidence, and achieved digital outreach of more than 10,000. This increased cancer awareness, reduced stigma, and improved access to early diagnosis and support among underrepresented communities.
McMillan Cancer Awareness Event at Hanwell Methodist Church 2025
Through the NHS Health Equity Co-Production Programme, we engaged 172 community members, conducted literature reviews and facilitated insight-gathering. This work identified service gaps in asthma, maternity and refugee care, and supported the co-development of more inclusive NHS service improvements.
Through the ICS Research Engagement Network (REN), we delivered 5 awareness events on prostate cancer and engaged 265 men from African, Caribbean and South Asian communities. This improved awareness, built trust in NHS research, and informed future engagement strategies for underrepresented communities.
Through the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), we co-led recruitment of community leaders to the Programme Board, supported recruitment of the HDRC core team with VCS representation on panels, advised on and contributed to community researcher recruitment and local leadership development, and acted as a full member of Workstream 5 to co-produce the Community and Public Involvement Strategy. This strengthened community influence in local health research governance, increased the representation of minoritised voices in decision-making structures, elevated the VCS sector profile as a knowledge partner in systems research, and embedded equity and participation within a major national health collaboration.
Refugee, Migrant and Inclusion Support
In 2024/25, we continued to support refugee and migrant communities through network-building, volunteering, leadership development and digital support.
Through the Ukrainian Infrastructure Support Network, we registered 327 Ukrainian members, delivered 31 events, mobilised 60+ volunteers contributing 1,500+ hours, and supported the formation of BRIDGE, a Ukrainian-led charity. This fostered integration, leadership and peer support among refugee communities.
Through the eVisa Transition Programme, we launched 7 support sites, reached over 1,200 organisations through communications, and provided direct support to 420 residents. This reduced digital exclusion and improved safeguarding for people transitioning to digital immigration status.
Our volunteering and community activity also had particular impact among older adults, migrant communities, carers and other residents who may otherwise be at risk of isolation or exclusion.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Project
The CVS didn’t just give us a list of phone numbers; they walked us through the system. They treated us like neighbours, not just cases.
Carers and Peer Support
In 2024/25, we also supported carers through volunteering-based peer support.
Through the Carers Partnership Volunteering Programme, we recruited 38 volunteers into roles including Champions, Café Hosts and Befrienders, and provided induction, DBS checks and personalised support. Outreach took place through events, Jobcentre Plus and digital channels. This created peer support spaces, strengthened the voice of carers, and enhanced inclusion for often-isolated individuals.
Early Years
In 2024/25, we also supported early years activity through grant-making and local capacity building.
Through the Greenwell Early Years Innovation Grants, 2 organisations were awarded £35,208, supporting 150+ families in Greenford and Hanwell. This improved access to early years support and strengthened local group capacity.
Equity in Funding and Community-Led Action
In 2024/25, we also provided grant support designed to widen access to funding and strengthen community-led responses.
Through Ealing Roots & Wings, we awarded £5,000 to 10 Black-led groups, reaching 800+ residents, with 75% of funded organisations receiving NHS funding for the first time. This promoted equity in funding and enabled culturally relevant health interventions.
In 2023/24, we continued to strengthen communities across Ealing and Hounslow through infrastructure support, volunteering, health work, digital inclusion and community-led programmes.
We secured £3,004,481 in external funding for Ealing VCSE groups and £2,434,268 for Hounslow VCSE groups. We provided one-to-one support to 80 groups in Ealing and 74 groups in Hounslow, delivered training to 350 VCSE representatives in Ealing and 450 VCSE groups in Hounslow, and supported 20 groups in Ealing and 16 in Hounslow to establish registered charities, constituted groups or CICs.
Our volunteering work also continued at scale. In Ealing, we recorded 6,056 volunteers registered, supported 401 organisations, and saw around 20,137 volunteering hours contributed. In Hounslow, 6,824 volunteers were registered, 358 organisations were supported, and around 26,137 volunteer hours were contributed.
Across our wider programmes, 756 residents engaged through Acton Connect, 1,212 participants took part in ICS Research Engagement roadshows, 2,385 participants attended 49 cancer awareness events, 4,462 people were supported through the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund, 215 Ukrainians were assisted through the Ukrainian Infrastructure Network, and 350 residents received one-to-one digital skills and ID literacy support through Re-Klaim IT Empowered by Pathways.
In 2022/23, we continued to grow our work across infrastructure support, volunteering, digital inclusion, health engagement and community connections.
We helped Ealing VCSE groups secure £1,092,460 in external funding and Hounslow VCSE groups secure £1,714,864. We provided one-to-one support to 80 groups in Ealing and 103 groups in Hounslow, delivered training to 300 VCSE representatives in Ealing and 292 groups in Hounslow, and supported 20 groups in Ealing and 15 groups in Hounslow to set up as registered charities, constituted groups or CICs.
Our safeguarding work in Ealing delivered more than 20 customised safeguarding trainings for over 50 VCSE groups and more than 700 people, while our Hounslow Voice Network continued to provide a collaborative platform for the sector and local authority partners.
Across our wider projects, 1,100 vulnerable residents accessed support and training through the Re-Klaim IT Device Distribution Project, digital poverty and exclusion were reduced for at least 500 households, 10,000 residents accessed services at West Ealing Community Managed Library, and 1,212 participants took part in 10 ICS Research Engagement roadshows, with 597 health checks completed. Community Connections also grew over the year, with Walk and Talk participation increasing from 9 participants from 2 countries to 30 participants from 6 countries.
In 2021/22, we reopened and developed services at West Ealing Library, continued supporting local organisations through the after-effects of the pandemic, and strengthened our work across infrastructure, volunteering, digital support and community partnerships.
In Ealing, we helped bring in £800,000 in external funding for VCSE groups, supported 70 groups through one-to-one development sessions, delivered training to 480 groups, supported 10 groups to set up registered charities, and delivered 9 Meet the Funder events with 324 attendees. In Hounslow, we helped bring in £1,920,862 for VCSE groups, supported 103 groups with fundraising support, delivered training to 292 groups, supported 15 groups to set up, and provided 21 organisational health checks.
Our digital capacity building work delivered 29 training sessions, recruited 73 Digital Champions, and created an online Digital Toolbox to support local organisations and residents. Our Hounslow Voice Network expanded leadership and trustee support, while our CACHE Network delivered 26 weeks of weekly Zoom sessions connecting BAME voluntary and community organisations with public sector partners and key health messages.
Across our wider programmes, West Ealing Community Managed Library recruited 40 volunteers and continued to grow as a community hub, while the Help Through Crisis Rescue Advice Hub brought multiple support services into one location to widen access and strengthen collaboration between providers.
In 2020/21, we adapted quickly to the challenges of the pandemic, moving support online while continuing to strengthen local organisations and connect residents with help, services and opportunities.
In Hounslow, we delivered training to 141 VCSE groups, supported 32 groups to set up as registered charities, constituted groups or CICs, coached 30 groups, and ran 45 training and workshop sessions with over 300 delegates attending. In Ealing, we supported 15 new groups to set themselves up, delivered 40 training and workshop sessions with over 345 delegates, and provided one-to-one funding or development support to over 210 individuals.
Our safeguarding training in Ealing continued throughout the year, reaching more than 40 VCSE groups and over 600 staff and volunteers. In Hounslow, our Voice Network became a central collaborative platform for the sector and local authority, supporting over 40 themed engagement and workshop sessions linked to COVID recovery.
We also continued direct community support through projects including the West Ealing Community Managed Library and the Help Through Crisis Rescue and Advice Hub, which brought multiple services together in one place to support residents facing hardship during the pandemic.