Who We Are
Ealing 135 is a social network in the most genuine sense: a way to meet other parents and carers with kids under the age of five living in and around the borough of Ealing. We are a not-for-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers drawn from within our membership. That’s right: every single person you see here is a local mum, dad, grandparent or child carer and they all work together to make sure there’s always something for you and your little ones to do.
How did we get started?
Ealing 135 was established more than 45 years ago by a small group of mums who felt Ealing was lacking activities and support for those with babies and young children. In the days before Netmums, Mumsnet and Facebook, finding and connecting with others in the same boat as you was harder and being a new parent could be a lonely and daunting experience (it still is, but much less so with a group like Ealing 135!)
It all began in 1973 when Joanne Murphy was asked by her NCT teacher if she would mind showing other new mums how she bathed her baby son Kevin. Chatting to those who attended, it became clear that there was no real social network for new mums and dads. It was something Joanne decided to remedy.
Coffee mornings at each others’ houses was the first step, and this remains one of the group’s most important activities. One of the first members’ husbands was a local vicar so she started hosting her mornings in the church hall, this became the group’s first play session. We still offer playsessions and coffee mornings, but a lot more besides including one off holiday events, specialist networking groups, and a newsletter listing activities across the borough. We also raise money for local charities to support the wider community.
What do we do today?
We remain an entirely voluntary group, the group is overseen by a committee that meets regularly throughout the year. We have reps who oversee local areas and members who help us to run events to make sure we can offer activities at the lowest cost possible. The entire group is comprised of parents of young children who are committed to making Ealing 135 as beneficial to parents as possible. We are always looking for people to help, so do get in touch if you feel you can offer your help to the group.
The group usually averages over 400 families within the network each year, runs weekly activity sessions around the borough and organises a programme of craft classes, Summer Fun, Spring Fun and Hallowe’en holiday sessions and raised money for a local charity each year by organising nearly new sales, a Spring Fair and a Christmas Gift Fair. We also coordinate a series of small social groups, catering to first time parents and second time parents so that you can meet others with babies and children of similar ages and groups for working parents, grandparents, lone parents and childcarers (nannies, au pairs, child-minders, etc) so that, whatever your situation, you can meet other local families for playdates and other fun. Add to this our evenings in and out for grown-ups, fit club and our babysitting circle, and you’ll see there really is something for the whole family when you join Ealing 135.
The formal bit
Ealing 135 is not a registered charity or formally incorporated company. We are a not-for-profit community interest company and all of your membership money is spent on funding the group’s activities. We are a member of the Early Years Alliance and carry public liability insurance for all of our events through that membership. If you require further details of this, please contact our Chairs. All of our activities are stay-and-play events and we do not offer any form of childcare. We do not operate from our own premises, using community centres and church halls around the borough.
