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Journalists to get hands dirty for good cause

Journalists at a series of newspapers in London will muck in with the community in the name of charity.

Journalists and editors from The Times and Independent Series of newspapers , which includes the Borhamwood and Elstree Times, are searching for a worthy cause to help as part of Mitzvah Day in November.

The team will  choose one charity to help out on the day and are currently asking readers for suggestions for projects in need of a helping hand.

Last year volunteers, including assistant editor Tim Jones and content editor Kerry Allan, transformed a paved concrete area into a green learning environment at a primary School in Borehamwood.

The team spent the day painting walls, sanding benches and laying soil.

This year they will be joined by group editor Martin Buhagiar and assistant editor Jon Neivens.

Said Martin: “This year we have again asked our readers in Hendon, Barnet, Edgware, Enfield, Haringey, Borehamwood and Harrow to suggest a project that our news team can work on during Mitzvah Day: Sunday November 20.

“It could be a community centre that needs a facelift or a communal garden that needs weeding, maybe even a community building or park damaged during the riots which we could help to repair – we’ll consider anything.”

This will be the third time newspaper staff have swapped shorthand for shovels and got their hands dirty for a good cause.

Mitzvah Day is an annual good-deed day that calls on thousands of volunteers to donate time rather than money to charity and community projects.

The Jewish-led day of social action, which is in its sixth year, encourages people of all backgrounds to make a difference around the world.

The team is now looking for fresh ideas about how to make a difference in the community.