Bhupinder Kaur, Community Enterprise Catalyst in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, shares her hopes for the project, what she has learned so far and what’s to come. 

I write with excitement and gratitude as I start on this new Community Catalysts project in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It’s a unique opportunity to support the community in the area, alongside my lovely colleague, Clare McGuire.

The project is about supporting community members and organisations to set up micro-enterprises and/or further develop existing community enterprises that can offer more choice of community activities and support for older people, people with dementia, autistic people and disabled people.

In my role as Catalyst, a local resident and a community volunteer, I have been reaching out to some of the organisations that offer innovative support to the community. This includes groups such as Engage Kensington that offer workshops with a different and creative process. It is with a view to stimulating the senses for those experiencing dementia or mild-cognitive impairment.

Other groups include Dare to Dance that offer dance and fitness sessions to members of all abilities as well as various age groups. Their motto ‘Have feet, will dance..’  can encourage anyone to throw some moves! Organisations such as Balance supported employment offers welfare-to-work support to disabled or autistic people to achieve their professional goals through work experiences or paid employment.

Add into the mix number of faith-based community groups such as Khalsa Jatha Sikh support and the Brompton Trinity Anglican church group and others, you can see the tapestry of support and community spirit in this great melting pot of a borough.

A big shout-out for Pulp Friction CIC that has been awarded a garden space to showcase their horticulture talents at the upcoming RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Community Catalysts helped set up this community enterprise 10 years ago in Nottingham. Pulp Friction started out taking smoothie bikes to events and festivals, which provided opportunities for people with learning disabilities and/ or autism to gain confidence and work experience. This concept drove the development of the garden and the idea to tell the story of Pulp Friction and their supporters.

We are just getting started in this gem of a borough in the very heart of London. The first month of community engagement and fostering partnerships has absolutely flown by. I’m looking forward to what the months and years ahead will bring.

Get in touch

We will organise a taster session that will showcase the brilliant community enterprises in Kensington and Chelsea. 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!

Call Bhupinder Kaur: 07881 297330 or Clare McGuire: 07595 411945. Or email: KensingtonandChelsea@communitycatalysts.co.uk