Empowering communities
Through its Neighbourhood Management policy, Paddington Development Trust has put local governance into the hands of communities. The four target wards each have a Neighbourhood Management Centre, which is run by a board of representatives from local public organisations plus local residents who are elected to the board, a process which is overseen by the Electoral Commission. Service delivery partners are accountable to the Neighbourhood Management Boards for the implementation of each ward’s development plan.
The New Life for Paddington initiative saw the Trust forming a partnership across the community, public and private sectors to deliver a wide-ranging programme of community support. Partners included Westminster Council, police and health services, Business Link, Job Centre Plus and Imperial College London, as well as property developers and social landlords. Projects included job creation and enterprise development, and providing support to local leadership teams in strategic planning.
Neil Johnston, Chief Executive of Paddington Development Trust, said: “Regeneration is a long-term task but we’ve already seen remarkable progress. The community has shown a genuine commitment and capacity for building a better future for the area.”
Youth engagement
One of Paddington Development Trust’s major projects has been the regeneration of the area’s youth service, in partnership with Westminster Council and voluntary sector organisations. A 1999 Ofsted inspection found the service to be very poor, so transforming services and support for young people was a priority.
The Stowe Centre, which opened in April 2006, is one of two new youth
centres in the area and is managed by the Trust on behalf of the City
of Westminster.
The Stowe Centre
in Paddington
The building houses a range of creative enterprise services for young people, including a Connexions advice and information facility, a sports hall and gym, a music studio and a training kitchen. Community groups are able to hire space in the centre for events and activities. The Trust also manages the Avenues Youth Centre on behalf of an independent management committee.
Topics associated with this project
Employment, Governance, Housing, Neighbourhood, Partnership working, Planning, Stakeholder management, Training