In partnership with the National Portrait Gallery and University of West London, 25 young people from schools in Ealing explored the stories of those connected to Heathrow Airport.

Heathrow is a site of travel, a beacon of the aviation industry and the gateway from England to the rest of the world. But for some local residents it is the place they first experienced entering the UK and somewhere they grew to know very well, not just for holidays or trips away, but as an employer. The University of West London shares its Heathrow Archives and works with us to tell personal stories, particularly from the local South Asian community and their professional relationships with the airport. Full information on National Portrait Gallery website here and exhibition here.

The University of West London's Outreach team deliver a National Saturday Club ​programme each year, giving young people aged 13-16 (school years 8-11) the opportunity to study a creative subject every Saturday morning. 

Working towards an overarching theme, the young people contribute self-portraits to a national exhibition, take part in masterclasses and develop new skills at their local university. This year the Saturday Club is working with Narvir Singh and in the workshops we look at storytelling and the people of Heathrow.

The young people taking part learn skills in oral history, poetry, filmmaking and recording, editing and production, and how images and portraits are used in storytelling.