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About us

Who We Are

Golden Opportunity Skills and Development (GOSAD) is a grassroots charity rooted in Ealing since 2003. We started as a youth-led movement in Southall and have grown into a trusted community anchor supporting young people, families, and adults across the borough.
What makes us different is that we are led by lived experience. From the very beginning, GOSAD has been shaped by the voices of local people — young people, parents, and community members who wanted to see change.

Our Mission

“To improve the lives of disadvantaged and marginalised communities in Ealing by creating opportunities, building skills, and tackling inequalities together.”

Our Vision

“A community where no one is left behind — where everyone has equal access to opportunity, wellbeing, and a voice in shaping their future.”

Our Values

Community-Led

We listen first, act together, and make sure voices from the grassroots lead the way.

Inclusive

We embrace diversity, working across cultures, faiths, and generations.

Empowering

We focus on skills, confidence, and opportunities that last.

Trusted

Our relationships are built on honesty, care, and consistency.

Advocacy

We stand up for those who are too often unheard.

Our Journey – 2003 to Today

Our Journey (Timeline 2003–2025)

GOSAD’s story began in Southall more than 20 years ago, but its roots lie in something simple: young people wanting to be heard. From day one, we have been about community voices, lived experience, and finding practical solutions together. What started as a small youth-led group has grown into a trusted charity supporting hundreds of people every year across Ealing. This is our journey.

2003

Starting Out

Golden Opportunity Youth Association (GOYA), later known as GOSAD, was born in Southall in 2003. It was set up by three friends – Irish, Asian, and African (Somali) – who felt that young people were being ignored. At the time, services were often “top-down”, with decisions made for young people rather than with them. GOYA flipped that model. From the start, young people sat on the committee, shaped projects, and had a real voice in how things were run.

2004–2006

Families Get Involved

It didn’t take long before parents and carers joined in. Many wanted a space to share their own struggles, and they often came from Black, Minority Ethnic and Refugee communities. We started projects that brought young people and parents together, opening honest conversations about challenges at home, expectations, and support. Supporting adults soon became just as important as supporting the young people themselves.

2007–2010

Becoming a Community Anchor

By this stage, GOYA had become a familiar name in Southall. We were running youth sessions, family support, and advice work, and people trusted us because we listened and understood. Intergenerational projects gave young people and parents the chance to learn from each other, building respect and stronger relationships. GOYA was no longer just a youth group – it was a community anchor.

2011–2015

Growing and Diversifying

As needs in the borough changed, we adapted:

  • Health and wellbeing activities promoted fitness and raised awareness about issues like diabetes.
  • Anti-radicalisation programmes helped young people build resilience against harmful influences.
  • IT and employability training gave residents practical tools to find work and connect with services.

Behind the scenes, we also strengthened our governance and brought in more trustees and volunteers to guide our growth.

2016–2019

Expanding Our Impact

This period was about consolidation. We built a strong reputation in three key areas:

  • Digital inclusion – supporting residents to get online and use vital services.
  • Employability support – helping people build skills, confidence, and pathways into work.
  • Mental health and wellbeing – breaking stigma and offering safe spaces to talk, especially for BMER communities.

By 2019, we were reaching hundreds of people each year, and the word “GOSAD” had become known across the borough.

2020

Standing Strong Through Covid-19

When the pandemic struck, many of our communities were hit hardest. GOSAD became a lifeline:

  • Delivering food and essentials to families in crisis.
  • Helping people access emergency funds and benefits.
  • Distributing laptops, tablets, and Wi-Fi so children could keep learning.
  • Offering wellbeing support for those isolated and struggling with mental health.

Our response showed the strength of community action – flexible, fast, and rooted in trust.

2021–2023

Partnership and Growth

We joined forces with other grassroots groups to deliver bigger, borough-wide projects:

  • Community Connections brought people together to reduce isolation in Greenford, Northolt, and Perivale.
  • Everyone Matters, a National Lottery funded project, supported thousands with advice, digital access, and health activities.
  • Our youth programmes expanded, offering safe, positive spaces for young people to thrive.

By 2023, GOSAD was supporting around 500 people each year and playing a key role in strengthening Ealing’s voluntary sector.

2024–2025

The W13 Impact Hub

More Than Just a Building
The W13 Impact Hub is GOSAD’s new home at 1 Bayham Road, West Ealing. Secured on a 25-year lease in 2024, it is designed to be a long-term community asset — a space where grassroots voices, frontline organisations, and local residents can come together to create real change. The W13 Impact Hub is a joint community asset with four local organisations who all do amazing work in Ealing:

  • United Anglo Caribbean Society (UACS)
  • Ealing Somali Welfare and Cultural Association (ESWCA) 
  • CAME Women and Girls Development Association (CWGDA)
  • Horn of Africa Disabilities Elders Association (HADEA)

We also welcome other local groups, Council , businesses, and external organisations who would like to hire the centre for meetings, events, or community activities.

What the Hub Offers

  • A space for frontline organisations that are too often voiceless, fragmented, or excluded from mainstream decision-making.
  • A hub for alliances that enable collaboration, resource-sharing, and joint advocacy.
  • A platform for residents and grassroots groups to influence policies and strategies that shape their lives.
  • A catalyst for opportunity in employment, training, cultural exchange, and community-led solutions.

Our Vision for the Hub We believe the W13 Impact Hub will become:

  • A safe and inclusive space where everyone is welcome.
  • A driver of systemic change, ensuring lived experience shapes policies and strategies.
  • A centre of innovation, where ideas grow into practical community-led solutions.

Our Team

Sharmarke Diriye

CEO

Mukhtar Handule

Project Coordinator

Abdi Yasin

Project Manager

Yousra Razak

Tutor

Maram Kuba

Tutor

Abdulahi Hubane

Tutor

Zarifa Mohammed

Keep Fit Instructor

Our current Trustees

Amal Mahmoud

Trustee

Hakim Shakur

Trustee

Bilal Nuh

Trustee

Glen Gayle

Trustee

Abdirrisak Jibril

Trustee