Top charity up for award

Kamini Shah, of Rayners Lane, South Harrow, went abroad on holiday for the first time with the organisation's help.

The 42-year-old nominated the charity for the Let's Do It Community Awards, through which three deserving causes will win a cash grant of up to s1,000 from Barclays.

This is great news for the charity's founder John Seymour, who plans to celebrate his 80th birthday on August 30 with staff and customers at the organisation's offices in Dawlish Drive, Pinner.

Link Up's transitions officer Ranu Mehta-Radia, 52, who took Kamini to Spain in February, said: "We started about 25 years ago helping people with learning disabilities to integrate into mainstream society.

"We run a lot of clubs and activities for service users in Harrow. We have a children's 1-to-1 club which is for children with special needs, and we run a computer club every Saturday at Stanmore College, and senior 1-to-1 club.

"Some of our activities are unique and that even brings people from other boroughs here."

One such example is Changes Nightclub, the only club night in north London for people with learning difficulties.

The popular event has been running for five years and takes place every second month at Zoom Leisure in Harrow View, Harrow.

Mrs Mehta-Radia said because the charity relies on funding through trusts and Lotto grants staff would greatly appreciate the Let's Do It money.

She explained: "If we won the grant, we could probably set up a new activity. Actually, there is one that we need to fund - contemporary dance classes for our clients at Harrow Arts Centre."

To nominate a charity of your choosing for a Let's Do It award pick up a copy of this week's Harrow Observer and fill out the form inside.