We’re here to enable our community to create its own bright future.

That community is primarily North Kensington – the 5 wards in the north of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea:

  • St Helen’s
  • Dalgarno
  • Golborne
  • Colville
  • Notting Dale

Below is our policy statement on our area of benefit.

History

In 1971 Westway Trust (1) was established in response to local protests at the social and environmental damage caused by the construction of the elevated A40 highway (the Westway).

The Trust’s remit was to improve the lives of the residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. Westway Trust was given a long lease (2) over 23 acres of land under the Westway (the Estate) where it passes through the Royal Borough.

The Trust’s focus, as it was in 1971, is the communities who live, work and visit the local area. Previously, this commitment was informal and this statement places into policy the local focus that was part of the founding spirit of Westway Trust and remains central to our approach today.

A condition of accepting significant grant funding from the Sport England Lottery Fund, to enable the Trust to build excellent sports and fitness facilities, was that we extend the area of benefit for sport to include the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the adjoining boroughs, so that a much larger audience could benefit from this public funding.

The Trust agreed to these conditions in 1998. In 2014 we made the decision to widen our constitutional area of benefit for all charitable activity to match the area used to define our sports and fitness work. There were three reasons for this decision:

We needed to reflect the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea’s commitment to tri-borough working
It allowed us to bid for funding for projects benefiting the local community
It enabled us to provide services where they are most needed close to the Estate.
Regardless of the widening of the area of benefit, local residents and community groups remain the focus of our work.

 

Policy Statement

  1. When managing the Westway Estate, we shall develop and maintain that land for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone who lives and works in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. The greatest impact of the Trust’s work will be felt within the five northern wards of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (North Kensington) and the area within about a quarter of a mile of the Westway Estate (the ‘Local Area'(3)).
  2. All of the Trust’s spending on capital projects shall be on the Westway Estate.
  3. The Trust’s obligations for the responsible long-term management of the Estate, as well as the cost of running the Trust itself, are funded entirely from the Trust’s property income. The Trust must generate sufficient income annually to meet those obligations.
  4. When running and commissioning services and facilities, we shall ensure those facilities and services are relevant to those who live and work in the Local Area.
  5. When providing sports and fitness opportunities, we shall continue to run these, as we are required to, for residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the adjoining Boroughs.
  6. When seeking funding from third parties for facilities or services we shall ensure the benefit is felt significantly by those that live, work and visit the Local Area.
  7. When awarding grants or funding to local community groups or charities out of income from property lettings on the Westway Estate, we shall restrict that funding to services provided to communities in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea with particular emphasis on North Kensington.
  8. When awarding grants or funding to individuals out of income from property lettings on the Westway Estate, we shall restrict that funding to people who live and work in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea with particular emphasis on North Kensington.
  9. The Trust awards grants in accordance with a specific Grant Making Policy which reflects the priorities set out above.
  10. All new Member Organisations(4) must demonstrate their activities are relevant to the residents of North Kensington and that they are active in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

 

Notes

  1. The Trust was established in 1971 as ‘North Kensington Amenity Trust’. The name was later changed to’Westway Development Trust’. The Trust was incorporated as a charitable company limited by guarantee in 2008. The name changed to ‘Westway Trust’ in 2014.
  2. In 1971 the freehold of the land under the Westway was owned by the Greater London Council. The GLC gave a 99- year lease over the land to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea who, in turn, granted a sub-lease over most of the land to Westway Trust. Over the years small parcels of land have been added to the Westway Estate and the lease term has been extended to 130 years starting in 1972. In 1997 Westway Trust bought out the requirement to pay an annual ground rent to RBKC with of a one-off payment of £280,000. The freehold of the land is now owned by Transport for London.
  3. The Local Area predominantly encompasses North Kensington (the five wards of Golborne, Colville, Notting Dale, St Helens and Dalgarno). It extends about a quarter of a mile radius to the East of the Estate, which includes a small part of Westminster; and about a quarter of a mile to the West of the Estate, which includes a small part of Hammersmith and Fulham.
  4. The Trust’s Articles of Association define Member Organisations which can nominate and elect a number of Trustees to the Board (presently 3 trustees).