Who We Are
Sharnjeet - Founder, Sunshine of Hounslow and Ealing CIC
Sharnjeet has been the Founder of Sunshine of Hounslow and Ealing CIC since July 2012. She is passionate about supporting people facing disadvantage, disability, ill health, and social isolation WIth decades of experIence in community work, health, education, and volunteering, she nas dedicated her life to improving the wellbeing of others.
Born and raised in India, Sharnjeet grew up in the household of a senior police officer. She received rifle training through the Indian Army, was captain of her school hockey team, excelled in drama, and achieved second place in drawing during her high school years.
These early
experiences helped develop the confidence, discipline, and determination that continue to guide her work today.
Sharjeet began her career as a fashion designer, working from 1980 to 1986 with renowned organisations including Vivienne Westwood, Harrods, Marks & Spencer, and Sportswear Clothing.
She later worked as a Midday Supervisor at Heston School in 1987 and as a foster carer for teenagers with the London Borough of Hounslow. She also trained and worked in home care between 1986 and 1990.
Committed to lifelong learning, Sharnjeet has gained qualifications and training across health, wellbeing, social care, and community development. These include:
Bereavement Counselling (1993)
BETC in Social Work and Counselling (1994-1995)
Homeopathy and Herbalism (1997)
Health Trainer Advisor qualification (2005)
Outdoor Gym Instructor training
Royal Institute of Public Health Improvement Level 2 (July 2008)
Bowel Cancer Volunteer Training (2009)
Heart Health Save a Life Training (2012)
Mental Health First Aid (October 2013)
Health and Safety Certificate (2014)
Food Hygiene Training (2014 and refresher training)
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Young People (2014)
Stress Management (January 2014)
Gateway Citizen Advisor qualification (2015)
Qualified Yoga Teacher (27 March 2015)
Supporting Families Through Crisis (2020)
Sunshine Begins...
Sunshine of Hounslow and Ealing is a local community charity group serving residents living in the London Borough of Hounslow and Ealing.
The charity was formed in 2012 by a few residents who wanted to support isolated men and women in the community through health and wellbeing activities and advice.
Activities include (but are not limited to) arts and crafts, gardening and harvesting within the allotment, yoga and so forth.
We are proud to have connected with hundreds of residents to date, and we are looking forward to engaging with many more!
Connecting and Uplifting
At Sunshine of Hounslow and Ealing, we believe in the power of community, helping each other and positivity! Our dream is to foster health and wellbeing through various engaging activities designed for all ages and backgrounds. We aim to create a positive, inclusive and supportive atmosphere where everyone can flourish and grow!
What we do...
Sunshine of Hounslow and Ealing CIC was founded in 2012 by local resident Sharnjeet Bhalla and her
husband. The Community Interest Company is dedicated to improving the lives of people who are
isolated or living with mental and physical disabilities through creating a welcoming and supportive
environment where people can engage with nature, connect with others, and enhance their physical
and mental wellbeing. The CIC’s main activity is providing horticultural sessions and training at an allotment site on Waye Avenue, Hounslow. With funding from the National Lottery Fund, Tesco bags for help, and the Crane
Valley Community Fund, the site that was once overgrown with brambles has been transformed, with two areas of colourful raised beds, an eco-toilet, a polytunnel, and a new greenhouse. The allotment is supported by a diverse and growing group of volunteers, including refugees and asylum seekers, local residents, and students with special needs from local schools and colleges.
With guidance from Sharnjeet, they grow a range of seasonal fruit and vegetables which are taken home by volunteers or donated to local food banks. Shanjeet also grows produce for residents who are housebound, helping ensure they have access to healthy meals throughout the year. These activities have supported volunteers to build confidence, develop new skills, and improve their wellbeing through social inclusion and time spend outdoors. In addition to regular volunteer sessions, Sunshine of Hounslow & Ealing CIC hosts a lot of corporate volunteer groups who help with the maintenance and upkeep of the site, from planting food to
weeding and harvesting. With a growing seedbank, the allotment is now largely self-sufficient and promotes healthy, sustainable and seasonal food growing.
The CIC’s work also goes beyond food growing, offering a range of indoor activities such as swimming, yoga, and arts and crafts workshops. This provides further opportunities for people to stay active, creative, and connected.
Sunshine of Hounslow & Ealing CIC has applied to multiple rounds of the Crane Valley Community Fund which has supported two weekly growing sessions for schools who cater for children with
disabilities and families on low incomes.
The sessions included training on food waste and composting, winter food growing, and maintaining an allotment. The goals of these sessions were for people to learn new lifelong skills, reduce food waste, and help with physical and mental
wellbeing by engaging with nature, socialising with others, and adopting healthy eating habits. The grants have also been used to improve accessibility at the site by installing flooring in the polytunnel.
This space is an important hub for the CIC, hosting workshops and providing a warm, sociable place for people to gather during colder moths. The CIC has been very successful in growing its engagement with families, schools, colleges, corporate groups and local residents. In future, they hope to continue growing visitor numbers to over 3,000 per year and, in particular, encourage people to stay involved throughout the winter months when engagement often drops.
If you would like to find out more about Sunshine of Hounslow & Ealing CIC’s activities, you can join by clicking the button below or email us on:
sunshineofhounslow@gmail.com