Background to Westbourne Forum and Paddington Development Trust
Westbourne Forum aims to improve the quality of life for local people. It was created
in 2004 with funding from the Westminster City Partnership1 and is managed by
Paddington Development Trust2. It is one of five Local Area Renewal Partnerships
(LARPs), which are a central plank of delivering Westminster Council’s
neighbourhood renewal strategy in the most deprived parts of the Borough. The
LARPs are recognised nationally as good practice in coordinating area renewal and
have been the focus of an IDeA case study, which can be found at:
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=8039139&aspect=full
Westbourne Forum's main purposes are to:




influence and improve vital services;
strengthen partnerships between the local community and service providers;
provide a voice for the local community;
identify opportunities to tackle the unmet needs of residents.
Some of the major achievements of the Forum over the past few years have
included:
 securing funding from the Big Lottery Fund to run free fitness classes for women;
 successfully working with the Council to install a new fitness trail in Westbourne
Green and a ballcourt under the Westway;
 establishing a ‘connectors’ network’ where professionals working with isolated and
vulnerable people meet to share information and support each other;
 work with ESOL providers that has resulted in an increase in the number of
classes held in community venues, a greater awareness of classes and it is now
easier for learners to enrol through our ‘all opportunities under one roof’ open
days;
 successfully making the case to the Metropolitan Police to increase the size of the
Safer Neighbourhoods Team so Westbourne now has 12 officers – twice the size
of a normal team;
 establishing a Storage Solutions Project to help overcrowded households make
better use of their existing space, while they are waiting to be re-housed;
 coordinating work with partners to improve the canal-side, including a new cycle
and footpath.
These are exciting times in Westbourne. There are a number of large-scale physical
developments on the horizon, including new housing on the Warwick estate, the
refurbishment of a local church for social and community enterprises, and Crossrail
1
Westminster City Partnership is Westminster Local Strategic Partnership. More information can be
found at: http://westminstercitypartnership.org.uk/default.aspx
2 Paddington Development Trust (PDT) is a community based regeneration company established in
1998 by local people in North Paddington determined to tackle the declining conditions of the
neighbourhoods of Queen’s Park, Harrow Road, Westbourne and Church Street. From humble
beginnings, we now have an annual budget of some £3 million and employ some 45 staff to achieve
the social and economic regeneration of our neighbourhoods through four core values: mutuality
(sharing benefits within the community); empowerment (creating opportunities for local people);
financial self-sufficiency (acquiring an income generating asset base); and providing equal
opportunities for all communities. More information can be found at: http://www.pdt.org.uk/
construction which will begin right in the heart of the neighbourhood. A key priority for
the Forum will be ensuring these major activities are well co-ordinated and the local
community reaps maximum benefit.
We have just negotiated a new delivery agreement with Westminster Council and in
addition to physical renewal, our other key priorities include:







unemployment and the skills gaps;
economic development of local businesses;
housing overcrowding;
youth anti-social behaviour;
health inequalities;
intergenerational relations and youth participation;
community empowerment and participation.
We are looking for someone with the skills, personality and commitment to come and
lead on significant aspects of this change for up to 12 months.
Toby Gale
Neighbourhood Manager
October 2009