The results of this year's Hayes Town Treasure Hunt have been announced with Melisa Kose of Botwell House Catholic Primary School winning the top prize of a £200 silver bracelet donated by Dharam Jewellers of Coldharbour Lane. The Hunt is organised each year by the Hayes Town Business Forum during autumn half term and it challenges children to identify images displayed in around 30 shops. There is a different theme each year and for 2022 it was shirts of World Cup football teams. Just under 300 entries were received from children across the primary schools of Hayes and there were 44 prizes donated by local traders with the cost of the entry forms being met by Stockley Park.

Botwell House children won a total of 10 prizes. They can truly call themselves the champions. The picture shows 9 of the winners along with Mr A S Puar, Chairman of the Business Forum and myself admiring Melisa's bracelet.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched the Energy Advice Service to help Londoners cope with soaring energy bills. It is in addition to the direct financial support being given by the Government and provides free independent advice from the Energy Saving Trust on practical measures to reduce energy and water consumption. To see what is available click here.

With older people being badly hit by increases in the cost of food, supermarket giant Asda has stepped in with a special deal for those aged over 60. They will be able to get soup, a roll and unlimited tea or coffee for just £1. Staff at the Asda store at the junction of Station Road and North Hyde Road are ready and waiting to welcome Hayes residents who would like to take advantage of this offer.

The Community Safety Team at the Council have collected a variety of donated secondhand clothing for adults, children and babies of all ages, as well as shoes, coats, school uniforms, baby items, toys, books and other useful materials. If you or any residents you know would benefit from this support, please go along to the Middlesex Suite at the Civic Centre on Monday 19 or Tuesday 20 December any time between 10am and 4pm. 

Please be ready with the sizes, ages and needs of those you are helping and have a way of getting the items dropped off. For further information send an email to Donna Cooper in the Community Safety team. No new donations are needed thanks.

The Government has extended the Household Support Fund because of rising prices. The Fund provides help with meeting the cost of food, utilities and other essentials. In exceptional circumstances these can include fridges, cookers and moving costs.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the criteria laid down by the Government. Hillingdon Council has been given £2 million and it has to be spent by 31 March 2023, or earlier if the funds run out. To find out more use this link.

On Monday 19 December from 2pm to 3.30 pm local disablement charity DASH, Age UK Hillingdon, Harrow & Brent and the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) will be hosting an event on Zoom about technology for beginners. In this session you will be able to learn about:

If you would like to attend, please send an email to Vanessa at DASH together with any questions you have by Friday 16 December. The Zoom link will be sent to those taking part prior to the event.

An environmental group called the Eco Experts have done a study of air, noise and light pollution in every Borough in London. Their report was published on 15 November and showed that the City of London is the most polluted part of the capital but with Hillingdon coming second. You do not need to be a detective to work out that Heathrow Airport might be something to do with this dismal record. The darker areas of shading on the map tell the story. Click here to see more.

The Environmental Services Association has highlighted how batteries thrown into household bins are causing around 700 fires a year in dust carts and waste processing stations. They reckon that these cost fire services and waste operators £158m a year. The dangers to staff working in recycling plants are enormous as shown in this video.

A report that came out in 2021 recommended that a lot more work is needed on how to deal effectively with batteries that are embedded in electronic equipment including phones - and also in unlikely items such as musical birthday cards. The Government has promised a response in 2023. In the meantime we can all do our bit to reduce the dangers and costs by recycling household batteries in the bin available at Botwell Green Library.

Hillingdon Online Neighbourhood Watch (OWL) are urging parents to take a look at some really helpful advice booklets produced by the National Crime Agency on how children and young people can stay safe on line. They are called "Cyber Choices" and there are different versions for different age groups. Not only do they provide useful tips but they also warn what happens when someone breaks the law. In addition they spell out the career opportunities in the industry for those young people who do it right. Click on this link.to find out more.