The Build School of Construction in Silverdale Road is one of the hidden jewels of Hayes but on Friday 10 July the achievements of its learners came under the spotlight in an award ceremony at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge.

The Build mission is to empower individuals with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need for successful careers in the construction and renewable energy industry. They cater for a wide range of people, some with challenging backgrounds and they produce amazing results. Led by the inspiring Head of Centre, Marcia Wootton, they now have bases in Ealing and Hounslow as well as Hayes.

The presentation ceremony was hosted by Head of Construction, Jane Gunn, who described the very difficult employment position facing young people and emphasised the vital importance of good training. As she introduced each of the learners who had gained certificates and qualifications it was clear that the highly-experienced staff team were not only teaching skills but also giving young people the confidence to succeed. It was a memorable event.

The picture shows Marcia and Jane along with Alex who won the "Most improved learner of the year" award at the Hayes Centre.

An equally moving event took place at the House of Commons on Thursday 9 July when Uxbridge & South Ruislip MP, Danny Beales, invited friends, supporters and sponsors of Home-Start Hillingdon to a celebration of their work.

Contrary to what some might think "Home-Start" is nothing to do with broken-down cars or building new houses - it is all about helping families in crisis. Clare Nazerali, Director of Home-Start Hillingdon and another inspiring local leader, welcomed guests and described the work of the group. Parenting can be an overwhelming experience, especially in the early years. Some face added challenges like post-natal depression, a child’s illness or disability, personal health issues, isolation, or the demands of multiple births. That’s where Home-Start comes in. Their highly-trained volunteers visit families at home, offering practical help and a listening ear. Whether it’s sharing parenting tips, getting out to local groups, or simply being there on the tough days, they really make a difference.

A woman from Hayes who had been helped by Home-Start recounted how her life had fallen apart because of long-term domestic abuse. The devastating impact on her and her children finally forced her to leave and it was the Home-Start volunteer who helped her turn everything around. She explained that at no point was she ever told what she had to do and that the key to success was the practical and emotional support that helped her reclaim her life.

To find out how to get help or how to become a volunteer use this link.

Each year the NHS commissions specialist company Ipsos to carry out an independent survey of what patients think of their local GP surgery and other health services. The results for 2026 were published on Thursday 9 July and you can see them here.

81% of patients described their overall experiennce of the Hesa Medical Centre (pictured) as "good". 921 surveys were sent out and there was a 9% return. Detailed responses for this and all other practices are available here

Useless fact; For those who don't know, Hesa is the old name for Hayes. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon and means land overgrown with brushwood.

Talking of local history, I was contacted a few weeks ago by Dayalan Mahesan, who puts together a regular community podcast called "Hillingdon Speaks". He is especially interested in local history and he had been told by the Council's Museums & Heritage Service that I would be a good person to speak to about Hayes. I explained that I am not a historian but that I have been around in Hayes for nearly 57 years since I started work with the Council at Barra Hall in December 1969.and have picked up a lot of what I think is fascinating information on the history of Hayes. I was happy to be interviewed in order to promote knowledge of the great industrial achievements of Hayes and the podcast is available on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Hillingdon Council has launched the Local Plan Scoping Consultation as the first stage towards preparing its new Local Plan. The Plan is a vital planning document, which sets out the borough's vision for the next 15 years. It shapes how land is used, including where new homes, businesses and infrastructure are located, alongside how they should be designed and built. It also helps to oppose unsuitable developments while safeguarding the borough's heritage assets, town centres, neighbourhoods and natural environment. 

To get more information on the consultation use this link and to have your say click here All responses must be submitted before Friday 21 August 2026. 

A key planning issue for Hayes Town is the adequacy (or inadequacy) of local health facilities to meet the growing population. After literally years of pushing for more GP surgeries it is good to report some progress on the proposals for the former staff canteen building at the old Nestles factory, now the Barratts London Hayes Village development.. The plan is to provide a surgery plus other health services and a nursery in the old canteen (pictured). It is a listed building because of its historic significance and its partial demolition needs separate approval in order to retain the special features. The Council's weekly list of planning applications on Monday 6 July reports that the detailed proposals have received the support of the Conservation Officer and have now been approved. Details can be found from this link.

The full Council met at the Civic Centre on Thursday 9 July and there was something quite striking about the agenda. There is provision for members of the public to put questions to Cabinet members about issues of local concern and it has been little used until recent times. There was a total of 12 different questions but what was just as striking was which parts of the Borough they came from,

There were three each from Ruislip and West Drayton with one from Eastcote, Northwood, Uxbridge and Yeading - but none at all from Hayes Town.

For information on how to submit a Council question click here.

The agenda also included proposals for major changes to the petitions procedure. More details will be included in next week's edition.

The Youth Jobs Grant offers employers a payment of £3,000 when they recruit an eligible young person aged 18–24 who has been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for at least six months. The grant is intended to help employers with recruitment and training costs while creating quality employment opportunities for young people.

Small and medium-sized businesses can also benefit from enhanced apprenticeship funding.

The UK Youth Guarantee provides the following

• Fully funded apprenticeship training for eligible 16–24 year olds at non-levy paying employers.
• A £2,000 incentive for small and medium sized enterprises in England that recruit eligible apprentices under the age of 25.
• Expanded foundation apprenticeship opportunities in sectors including retail and hospitality.

If you would like to explore any of these opportunities:

1. Visit the Jobcentre Plus employer recruitment service
2. Register your interest in recruiting young people through the Youth Guarantee.

On Thursday 30 July H4All will be hosting a free ‘Menopause Matters’ workshop for staff working in voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations based in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

This workshop will be delivered by a health professional. The session will provide practical information and support for anyone wanting to better understand menopause and its impact on daily life. Topics include menopause symptoms, management strategies, HRT, natural remedies and available support services.

The workshop will run from 11am to 1pm and the venue is Key House, 106 High Street, UB7 7BQ. Send an email to H4All to reserve your space

Readers will not be too surprised to learn that there has been another reorganisation of the National Health Service. Hillingdon is now part of the West & North London Integrated Care Board. Covering a total of 13 London Boroughs this body is responsible for planning, commissioning and overseeing health services for 4.5 million people and it has an annual budget of £13 billion

It is keen to make sure that it knows the needs and views of local residents and on Thursday 9 July I attended the first online meeting of its newly-formed Residents Forum. There were over 100 people on the call but I was unable to spot if there was anybody else from Hayes.

To gather local views on priorities there is a very short questionnaire which they would like as many people as possible to complete, It is here.

They would also like views on the best ways for local people to help shape their work. To find out more use this link.

Following weeks of chaos in the town centre caused by roadworks, a call by the Hayes Town Ward Councillors for a review was turned down at the full Council meeting on Thursday 9 July.

Their case for a review highlighted the fact that there was no advance notification, no digital display boards on the approach roads asking drivers to avoid travelling through the Town Centre and no alternative routes. The closure of bus stops caused enormous inconvenience for pedestrians and the overall impact on business was dire.

Councilllors Nav Dhesi, Stuart Mathers and Robin Sansarpuri all spoke in the debate. They insisted that there must be a better way of managing roadworks, especially in key town centres like Hayes but their request for a review was rejected after a vote. The motion submitted to the Council is here.

On Sunday 12 July I had the pleasure of attending a holy Sikh festival in the Gurdwara in Springfield Road. Known as a Parkash, it celebrated the teachings and lives of leading gurus. The event ran over three days and attracted thousands of Sikhs from Hayes and further afar. The music included performances by students of the nearby Guru Nanak Sikh Academy.