About
History
WEP was set up in 1992, by local people, to help make their area a better place to live and work. It included community, voluntary, private and public sector partners from the earliest stage and, working with few resources, started to improve services in the area. Local people were concerned about young people, including street fighting, racial tension and the lack of facilities and opportunities. Issues like community safety and facilities for young people, which are central to the welfare of all local people, originally brought local stakeholders together, as well as a strong commitment to make things better.
So, what has WEP been doing over the years?
Here are a few highlights:
1992 Partnership set up by local Councillor and Mayor Jim Turner, the Metropolitan Police and Regents Park Tenants Association
1993 More than £8,000 raised from Metropolitan Police, Prince’s Trust, private donations and others. First Community Festival takes place on the Cumberland Market
1994 Community projects and work with young people. Base set up in portakabin on Regent’s Park Estate
1995 Camden Council works with the Partnership on the development of a bid for five years of Single Regeneration Budget funding
1996 Bid made for Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) funding with Camden Council
1997 SRB Award of £6.5 million made to West Euston Partnership for five years. WEP registered as a Company Ltd by Guarantee. First year Delivery Plan agreed with Government Office for London. Project set up begins. Staff appointed.
1998 Housing Capital works start on site. Third Age Project, Headstart, West Euston Community Association set up. WEP office set up in Troutbeck, Regent’s Park Estate
1999 Launch of the West Euston Partnership One Stop Shop at 21 Hampstead Rd. Jon Snow opens the centre.
2000 Continuation Strategy Forum set up. Application made for £1million Healthy Living Centres, Lottery funding. Healthy Community Project partnership set up.
2000 Planning permission obtained for Healthy Community Project building on Cumberland market. Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF) awarded to WEP
2002 SRB ends. More than £26 million spent on improving the West Euston area over 5 years. NRF awarded for Open Spaces work with Young people. Lottery funding awarded. Further £2.5 million Camden Housing Capital funds for environmental improvements agreed
2002 Neighbourhood Action Plan agreed as part of the Camden’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. Healthy Community Project partnership agreements signed.
2003 Private Sector funding of 10,000 from partners, the Prudential, for the West Euston Community Film project. WEP Board holds 4 Neighbourhood Management Forums, seeking local views.
2004 One Stop Shop gains first ‘Matrix’ quality standard accreditation for Advice and Guidance Service. WEP Planning Working Group set up to ensure community consultation in Regent’s Place business developments.
2005 Local Area Agreement funds awarded to WEP for delivery of Camden Housing & Employment Project from the One Stop Shop. Board Directors set up consultation with local people.
2006 Local Area Agreement funds awarded for a Community chest run by WERP panel for local projects. H-pod, Healthy Community Project building is completed and opened. Bangladeshi Family Research report completed participatory research (action research) was done in conjunction with the Institute of Development Studies, Participation, Power and Social Change Team, University of Sussex. and launch event held in March 2006; major service providers attend and a plan of action agreed. WEP cited as exemplar of neighbourhood governance by Department for Communities and Local Government.
2007 Primary Care Trust (LAA) funds the Community Nutrition Assistant Training project, run from the H-pod. Community Space Plan agreed as part of Section 106, to ensure community use of a new Diorama theatre within the Regent’s Place developments. WEP awarded Deprived Area Fund contract, using West Euston outreach model.
2008 Charity registration achieved 29 July 2008. Big Lottery Fund award of £499,000 for 3 years of Reaching Communities funds.
