Clubs/societies

Harrow Natures Conservation- morning working party at Bentley Old Vicarage on Saturday 7th November from 10am. Meeting outside Bentley Day Centre, Harrow Weald.

A charity representing the borough's 5,000-strong Russian community is inviting residents to take part in two new cultural projects.

The Russian Immigrants' Association, based at the Community Premises in Northolt Road, South Harrow, will run activities to preserve members' memories and to explore Russian literature in the hope of breaking down the barriers between English and Russian neighbours.

In the first project Natalia Kharina, a student at Swiss Cottage's Central School of Speech and Drama, whose mother Natalia Nikolaeva runs the association, is to host a programme of drama workshops.

The 19-year-old, from Kenton, said: "It will be a series of workshops based on the themes of The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, one of my favourite books.

"It's based in Communist Russia and explores whether human flaws exist, and what was banned back in Russia."

Weekly one-hour workshops will be held to develop ideas into a script, not necessarily a direct adaptation of the novel, and a performance staged in May.

The second project will be a heritage club set up for 10 to 15 Russian pensioners to socialise and record their memories of Russia and Britain, and take photographs of their communities.

Exhibitions will be held twice a year to teach other residents about the culture and history of life of people from the former Soviet state.

Natalia said: "Elderly Russian people do not have a lot of things to focus their minds on and feel their heritage is being threatened.

"We want to bring older people together and share stories, and interest English people as well."

Young people in Harrow borough are being encouraged to take part in a new volunteering project.

A new programme of full-time charity work for 16 to 25-year-olds is being launched after Harrow Council was awarded a £285,000 grant.

The money from v, the youth volunteering organisation, will help launch v Talent Year, which will aim to recruit 30 volunteers from the borough over the next two years.

Christine Bednell, portfolio holder for children's services, said: "I would urge as many young people as possible to take up this opportunity to make a difference to children and young people's services - it's a great way to gain training and a qualification. We will support any dedicated young people willing to give up their time to help the community they live in."

The volunteers will help the council's children's services from youth to play work, as well as supporting children and people with special needs and disabilities.

In the first year 30 per cent of the young volunteers will be unemployed and in the second year this will rise to 50 per cent.

Volunteers will also receive a level 2 National Vocational Qualification and a Personal Development Grant.

Anyone interested in volunteering should call 020 8420 9244 or
email .

Harrow and Wealdstone Swimming Club has set itself ambitious new goals under the leadership of Olympian Marc Spackman.

The Harrow Leisure Centre-based association unveiled its vision in a document which said would soon be the "toughest and most competitie team in London".

Mr Spackman said he would soon be concentrating on the club full-time and that he would ensure HWSC the most professional team at every meet attended.

Harrow and Wealdstone Swimming Club is holding its sprint night on November 30 at Harrow School from 5pm to 8pm.

To find out more about the club visit www.harrowswim.org

The Ridgeway Irritable Bowel Syndrome self help group has a guest speaker at its next meeting.

A clinical nurse specialising in bowel control at St Mark's Hospital will be speaking at 71 Imperial Drive, North Harrow, from 7.30-9pm on November 4.

Parents can take time to relax with their baby in innovative yoga classes due to start in Wealdstone.

Claire Murphy, originally from Rayners Lane, is bringing her baby yoga sessions to Harrow Healthy Living Centre on Wednesday mornings.