A.P.P.L.E, a charity based in the ARTBLOCK in Acton Park, provides activities and events for young people. They hasve secured almost £10,000 from Ealing Council's Ealing Together Fund (ETF), to finance a new kitchen that will benefit the community's children.

The ETF is a crowdfunding opportunity that encourages the community to take the lead on projects that are built on local knowledge. It aims to empower people who have the respect and trust of their community to make positive changes.

Thanks to the ETF, A.P.P.L.E went more than half way towards hitting its £19,492 goal earlier this year for the kitchen redevelopment.

The charity recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and opens 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 from A.P.P.L.E is excited for the new kitchen plans after charity recievies funding (image via aroundealing.com).

Abigail Leitao, who used to attend A.P.P.L.E as a child and now in adulthood, welcomes the plans as they will provide more cooking opportunities for children within Ealing.

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"

A.P.P.L.E was one of 8 community groups to receive a share of the latest £50,000 pot of ETF funding and the mayor of Ealing, Councillor Hitesh Tailor, has chosen A.P.P.L.E as his first charity of the year.

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."