Could you be the champion?

Are you passionate about making a difference to the health and well-being of people in your community? If so, you might want to join Ealing Council’s Community Champions programme.

As volunteers who live or work in the neighbourhood, community champions connect with each other, the council and its partners to work together to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of their communities.

Champions receive training in a wide range of areas, building on their existing strengths and interests. This helps champions like Angela Doreen to use their social networks, community knowledge and lived experience.

Angela’s story

Angela Doreen became the champion when the program first started in 2022. She was one of its first 15 members. Now there are over 60.

Angela has a wealth of volunteering experience, including as an NHS response during the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteering at Ealing Soup Kitchen and answering calls and providing support at New Kapporet – a Christian equivalent of the Samaritans. She is now employed at the soup kitchen as a coordinator.

She said: “I work with people who are either lonely, vulnerable, homeless, can’t afford to eat – or all of the above. I know what it’s like to be without and the shame people can feel when they ask for help.”

Angela has built the trust of visitors from the kitchen and can help them access vital council services that they may not otherwise know are available to them.

“Bridging Community Gaps”

Since becoming a champion, Angela has shared information about the council’s warm spaces program with vulnerable clients and even set up a soup kitchen for the colder months.

Community champions also signpost people to relevant support and health services and help destigmatise health initiatives such as breast and bowel cancer screening, helping people make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

Angela said: “We are collaborating more and more and helping each other and bridging the gaps in the community. I hope this will continue to grow.”

Could you be the champion?

The council is recruiting community champions across the borough. Champions will be trained and supported to talk to people and share their knowledge about health and wellbeing. You’ll also attend meetings, meet other champions and hear from guest speakers.

You are?

• over 18 and live or work in the neighborhood
• passionate about supporting people to make informed lifestyle choices about their health and wellbeing and want to make a difference to your community
• a good listener who would support people’s right to make decisions for themselves

What is it for you?

Becoming a Community Champion brings a number of benefits. It can help you learn more about living a healthy lifestyle, increase your employability with additional skills, knowledge and access to free training and help you develop your communication and relationship skills.

For more information or to sign up, visit the Community Champion pages on the council’s website.