Andy Naylor, Community Enterprise Catalyst, tells us about activity and plans for the Westminster project.

I, alongside my brilliant colleague Joe, have got the new Community Catalysts project in Westminster underway. From early January we have been out and about getting to know the incredible people and organisations doing brilliant work in the borough. This is to understand how we can complement the work they are doing.

The project is about finding exceptional people and organisations that can offer more choice of community activities for older people, people with dementia, autistic people and disabled people.

In our first week we walked from Pimlicco to Edgeware Road, which gave us a look at just how much wonderful stuff is already going on in the borough. It also gave us a very impressive step count for the day!

Westminster is a large, diverse area where people want to live their lives to the fullest. At the wonderful Church Street Library residents can sign up for activities such as street photography and drama workshops for older people. The Dende Collective is a theatre company that has been doing incredible work since 1999. It ran an ‘improv for elders’ workshop at the library in 2016 that went on to see older actors perform shows in the nearby Cockpit theatre. We are very excited to be meeting up with Andre, the Artistic Director to find out more about this innovative group.

From ballet groups for older people, to skateboarding sessions and gardening clubs, Westminster is bursting with creative talent and passion. We went to the Abbey Centre to meet up with Laura who runs weekly support sessions for women in Westminster who want to set up their own business. They have lots of ideas for supporting people in the community. The centre also runs a community choir, a men’s shed, a programme of activities for over 55s and lots more.

We are only two months into the project, but already we’ve been blown away by what Westminster has to offer. We’re excited about what the next two years will bring.

Get in touch

We plan to organise a taster session that will showcase the brilliant community enterprises in Westminster. This event will connect organisations with people in the local community who would love to attend their activities.

Do you have an idea you need support with? Or are you already running a programme that you want to shout about? Get in touch!

Email: westminster@communitycatalysts.co.uk or call Andy: 07876 836317 or Joe: 07939 958614.

This is a partnership with Westminster City Council.