The recent terrible murder of school teacher Sabina Messa has again highlighted the vulnerability of women. Unfortunately most violence against women happens in the family and on Tuesday 19 October Hillingdon Council will bringing together a wide range of agencies to inform the local community about what can be done on this and other health and wellbeing issues affecting women. It will take place in the Claretian Oasis Centre (formerly the Botwell Social Centre) between Botwell House School and Botwell Church from 10am to 2pm. It is free and you can drop in at any time that suits you. Click here for more information.

The autumn season is with us and it's time to celebrate Cranford Park's Community Orchard. All ages are welcome at the Apple Day event to be held on Saturday 2 October at 11 30am. The Cranford Park Friends will be harvesting apples, juice making, tasting and giving an orchard talk. Adults and children are welcome to help -- or just come and enjoy being outdoors in a lesser-known part of the Park. Please meet by the old stables (near the car park). The event is free and it finishes at 2pm.

Parking is available or use bus E6 or 195.

Being active outdoors in nature is good for our mental and physical health. Hillingdon Council’s Physical Activity Team would like to know what outdoor nature-based activities are happening in the Borough and what help and support is needed to deliver them. If you organise such activities please complete this short survey by Monday 11 October.

Nature-based activities are activities held outdoors that would not be found on a sports timetable, but get people moving. They include allotment or community gardening, food growing, healthy walks, litter picks, park runs, scrub management in a local park or along the canal.

Talking of surveys, here is one about Uxbridge High Street being carried out by researchers at Brunel University. for Hillingdon Council. It is seeking to examine how people use and experience the High Street in order to understand how to better design it as an engaging social and public space. Click here to take part

Just about everybody seems to be after your views this week. The London Fire Brigade wants to understand your concerns in relation to fires and other emergencies such as terrorism and flooding that the Brigade is likely to attend. These may be things you fear or can make you anxious about your safety at home, at work or when out and about. To find out more about the consultation click on this link and to take part click here.

On Wednesday 29 September at 11 30am the Get Ready for Work Team at The Winning Box offices in Station Road will be hosting an online event for small businesses on how to provide a more user friendly environment for parents at work. It is free to take part. Please click on this link to book a place. You are also invited to complete this short survey.

Saturday 25 September saw the start of the queues at petrol stations and traffic chaos for surrounding areas. A great way to avoid this was to attend the cycling and walking event organised by the Canal and River Trust and the Council to mark the completion of the latest section of towpath to be improved. The picture shows members of the Hayes Legacy Women's Cycling Club plus a few hangers-on including me. The event was also attended by the Mayor, the Cabinet member for Public Safety and Transport and two of the Botwell Councillors.

Another cause for local celebration was the wealth of talent seen at the recent Uxbridge College student awards ceremony held at the Beck Theatre in Grange Road. I was delighted to be invited and to see once again why Uxbridge College is the tops

From time to time local Councils carry out a count of rough sleepers in their areas. This helps paint a picture of the scale of the problem in each Borough, in London and in the country as a whole. Please send me an email if you know of places where there are rough sleepers in and around Hayes. To find out how you can help StreetLink in its work assisting rough sleepers click on this link.

The Horn of Africa Youth Association in East Avenue is better known as HAYA and its mission is to work with young people of Somali background. It will be holding its Annual General Meeting at 4pm on Tuesday 28 September and would be pleased to welcome attendance by any community members or groups in Hayes who are keen to work together on issues affecting Somali youth. To find out more please send an email