David Myles
Ealing: A Force of Innovators
Having spent most of my early childhood in the London Borough of Ealing, I have always seen it as a place that epitomises creativity and eminence, whether in publishing, acting, music, sports, entrepreneurship, politics, or science.
Black authors and publishers are indebted to the renowned and late Jessica Huntley and Eric Huntley, who lived in Ealing until their deaths. Collectively, the Huntleys are responsible for one of the first Black publishing companies, Bogle-L’Ouverture Bookshop Publications in the UK, and for establishing the first Black bookshop in Ealing. The filmmaker Steve McQueen was also born in Hanwell and attended a local school.
Arsenal footballer and England right-wringer, Bukayo Saka, grew up in Greenford and attended the longest-standing Black supplementary school in West London, Descendants, during his teenage years. Descendants, based in Acton, prides itself on harnessing the arts and crafts, encouraging academic prowess, and highlighting Black accomplishments in STEM. Saka’s holistic brilliance is also illustrated in his GCSE results, where he achieved four A* grades (equivalent to grade 8) and three A grades (equivalent to grade 7).
In 2019, former Ealing mayor, Councillor Dr Abdullah Gulaid, became the first mayor of Ealing of Somali heritage. Before entering politics, Gulaid, who holds a PhD in Biochemical Pharmacology, had a decorated career in medical advances spanning Europe, Japan and the United States. He is also the co-founder of the Sickle Cell Anaemia Research Foundation.
The late Jamal Edwards exemplifies an enterprising spirit of determination, which Ealing is known for. The DJ and rapper Edwards was given a camera by his parents at 15 and initially recorded his friends rapping in West London, which led to the YouTube channel Smokey Barz TV (SBTV). The channel is credited for the fertilisation of the musical careers of established UK giants such as Stormzy, Dave, Ed Sheeran and Skepta.
Community work, Advocacy and Activism
Establishing a women’s organisation, for women of the Caribbean, a part-time teacher and community organiser during the remainder of her working schedule, Louise juggles an array of hats.
As a result of her work in Ealing, other local authorities have requested that Louise offer her expertise in community engagement, for which she has provided consultancy services to schools.
”My consultancy is at the moment focused on empowering parents to play a more active role in the children’s education and quite specifically how that can play a role in addressing the inequalities that exist within education,” says the primary school teacher.
Parents Action and Resource Centre (PARC) consists of Louise, who is a co-founder with advocacy specialist, Ade Banjoko. Other members include the Director Angela McGlowan. PARC also has a group of 10 teachers, which emerged when PARC was running its supplementary school, meaning that the organisation consists of approximately 22 members.
Supplementary School
A supplementary school was established around the time of the pandemic. ”Parents in the West London community, specifically Ealing had said they wanted to have a supplementary school. I think that during the pandemic, they felt there just wasn’t enough for them there in terms of support” says Louise.
Despite schools offering online provisions or designated attendance bubbles, parents wanted something more to keep their children engaged in learning. ”But also, something that addressed the big gap, which we noticed within schools. I think everyone recognised that the curriculum is not quite where it reflects our own histories and experiences” claims Louise.
The supplementary school element of PARC began in 2020 and was named after Queen Nzinga, who ruled the territory that is geographically referred to as Angola today. During the period that the Queen Nzinga supplementary school was running, the school operated out of Northolt Village Community Centre and Northolt High School.
Students were not solely from Northolt. Some were over 6 miles away in Acton and from further west London locations and bordering areas such as Slough and High Wycombe/Buckinghamshire.
”We [PARC] still strongly believe in having a culturally responsible curriculum. One where our children see themselves reflected”
Listening to Louise articulate the popularity of the Queen Nzinga supplementary school appeared to fit neatly into the golden era of supplementary schools that educationists such as David Simon; Manchester’s Guyanese community activist, Nana Bonsu who was commonly known as Berry Edwards; Professor Gus John and organisations such as The African Caribbean Self-Help Organisation (ACSHO) in Birmingham, and later, the Queen Mother Moore and the Nubia Afrikan Foundation school in London helped shape. The Queen Nzinga school ran on Saturdays, with designated classes for primary and secondary school-age students. The classes were adequately staffed with teachers tasked with teaching subjects such as English, Maths, Science, and History to their respective age groups.
Sadly, the Queen Nzinga supplementary school is presently no longer operating due to several factors. One of the most salient explanations was post-COVID constraints. ”Once children had got back to school, got back into their routines, parents were finding it difficult to fit in the supplementary school, ” says Louise.
”PARC really strongly believes that supplementary schools play a critical role, and we feel we did at the time, but we can see that demand isn’t quite there,” admits Louise.
Louise asserts that if demand for a supplementary school arises, PARC is positioned to deliver an exemplary service. A comprehensive curriculum is ready to be executed, and the team is zealous to teach young people.
”We [PARC] still strongly believe in having a culturally responsible curriculum. One where our children see themselves reflected” says Louise.
When the Queen Nzinga supplementary school was operating, the team had distinct roles, both strategically and operationally, but since the school’s closure, roles have become less polarised. In the post-supplementary school era of PARC, the organisation has maintained a team of 10 engaged parents who work with the organisation across the innumerable areas in which PARC operates.
A decade later: Standing firm
The strength of PARC’s team has propelled the organisation to a decade of existence in a precarious period when many similar entities have capitulated. PARC’s tenacity is crystallised by their clear discernment and identity, in which Louise asserts ”We were always very clear on who we were, which is an organisation that provides information and advice and guidance to African heritage families. That remains our core. We have a focus on advocacy”.
A student collaboration event. Click to enlarge
While other organisations have curtailed by failing to collaborate, PARC has been a beacon by being prepared to ”work wherever we can with whoever we can to address the inequalities that we can see that exist within education” says Louise.
PARC has been unwavering in its commitment to addressing racial equity issues across London boroughs. Schools have approached PARC to provide expertise in factors such as the impact communities could have on a race equality commission.
PARC’S impact: Beyond Ealing and West London
Amid the COVID era, Ealing council had a Race Equality Commissioner in place, while other boroughs, such as Lewisham, have also implemented such initiatives. PARC has worked meticulously with Ealing, which has been supporting one of the overarching demands of its commissions: actively empowering parents to play a role in their child’s education.
Attendees at a PARC Welcome Day
”From 2022, as well as our advocacy work, we have been continuing the kind of workshops with parents around exclusions advocacy, how to understand the education system, and how to advocate effectively for your child, which enables them [parents] to really engage constructively to improve their children’s experience” says the educator.
PARC’s arduous work has led to the organisation reaching over 200 parents from as far afield as North Acton on the eastern circumference of the borough and the Southall vicinity, which borders the borough of Hillingdon. The parents meet once a term and discuss a multitude of topics, such as the challenges they may be experiencing in education, how to support an effective transition from primary to secondary school, and how to support your child in reception.
Fostering parent leaders
PARC is committed to parents being equipped with the skills to self-advocate. As part of that process, individuals within PARC are beginning to devote a significant amount of time to training parent leaders who can then foster peer support within their respective schools. The astounding work of PARC has led schools and organisations such as Ealing Learning Partnership (ELP) to appoint members of PARC to summarise the experiences of parents across the borough of Ealing, which can be invaluable for schools in understanding the issues at the heart of the complex communities across the borough.
Despite the resources that PARC provides to schools, Louise asserts ”our real focus is on parents. Hence the name parents in the name.”
A celebration of PARC’s Parent Leaders will be taking place on Saturday, the 4th of July 2026, in West Ealing. Speaking about the forthcoming event – This is Just the Beginning: Celebration of PARC Parent Leaders Louise said: ”It is not only a celebration but is also an opportunity to find out the ways in which parents can play a role in their schools and actively empower other parents to do the same”.
Louise added: ‘’This is more than a moment of reflection — it’s a vibrant gathering to honour achievements, share in the energy of what’s been built together and spark the next phase of impact. Expect a powerful atmosphere of connection, pride and possibility as partners, families and young people come together to celebrate progress and help shape what comes next.’’
Click image to enlarge
