Vision, Mission and Values

In order to deliver the best social impact for our beneficiaries in the most efficient way, we need to have the right expertise and effective plans in place. Staff should be clear on their objectives and we should be able to explain clearly to our stakeholders what we are doing, why we are doing it, and when we plan to do it. We also need to recruit with care and offer training and development to staff so that they are clear of what is expected of them, and the importance we place on not just what we deliver but how we work with communities and should be open to constructive feedback. A purposeful environment is key to staff well-being, so that individuals can plan their effort accordingly and see the results of their work. We want the Westway Trust to be one of the best places to work in the sector, where staff can see their work making a difference in the community.

The communities of North Kensington are diverse, talented and vibrant. Cultural and religious barriers can hinder the development of public and social spaces and social value. This in turn can lead to instability, isolation, violence and increased poverty which in turn affect our well-being. Therefore there is a need to create more opportunities for people of different ages and backgrounds to regularly connect with each other and gather together to establish common ground. This will improve the resilience and quality of life for everyone. The need for social connection has never been greater. The on-line environment is helpful and important, but cannot replace the face to face interactions needed in order to build greater trust and understanding amongst our communities. Working together makes driving positive change easier.

The land is entrusted to us because of the creation of the Westway. It is in one of the areas of greatest need in the country, and it is our duty to look after it for the long term benefit of all. It can also deliver shorter term social and economic benefits. For example the Trust has assets in a part of the borough where some people are living in overcrowded housing, or temporary accommodation. Therefore land can be a route to addressing the need for access to green space, or recreational, health and well-being activities. For practical purpose, such as running a business, or storage and for the development of skills. We live and work in a borough where many people, and disproportionately racialised people, may never be able to afford to buy land or own their home. Land ownership and usage is symbolic of where the power lies in our Nation. Land is a capital asset that ‘bakes in’ advantage as it passes through the generations. It is important to highlight the injustices when it comes to land and opportunities for land use. The land is also an important symbol of togetherness across communities, a place for gathering in good times or bad times, a place of commune and belonging. This is why its matters so much to our communities and we all need to respect this.

Everyone has a right to play a part in shaping society, it is not the prerogative of the few. Participating is a route to making lives better and a route to empowerment. Working alongside the Trust builds deeper relationships with an important strategic asset and lever for our beneficiaries. We want to encourage the view that people can be valued for their community spirit, and to believe that getting involved makes a difference. We want to amplify the voices of our communities, so that their priorities can be understood and acted upon by public servants, the Local Authority and others in powerful positions. Community voices can lead to greater resources becoming available to residents in North Kensington. Reducing barriers and enabling community action and decision making is a step towards civic empowerment.

We live in a society where resources and opportunities are concentrated in the hands of the few. Despite us being in the G10 globally, we have one of the greatest social and economic divides in the developed nations and this is reflected in the statistics relating to our own borough. It is one of great contrasts in income, assets and opportunity. All data tells us that inequality between groups is becoming greater. Inequality means obstacles to achievement and where talent is overlooked or wasted people can become disenfranchised. In spite of the resilience of communities it can lead to tensions and people not having the energy or the desire to have a stake in shaping the society around them. Everyone has the right to share in economic growth and the resulting prosperity.

We will offer leadership and support in good measure, working towards the outcomes we believe in. We will be creative and adaptable and work to promote innovative solutions. Our openness to continuously learning and improving will help increase our confidence as an organisation striving to do our best for North Kensington. We openly acknowledge that where there is so much need, there will be pressure on the Trust’s resources and we will not be able to please everyone. We will be honest about this. We will be motivated to stretch ourselves to achieve more for our communities but we will also act responsibly and take difficult decisions to maintain focus, direction and solvency.

We are a learning organisation committed to continuous improvement. We will ensure pathways are in place to influence the way we work because we believe that good ideas can come from anywhere and we will always aim to learn from those ideas. We will also learn from the past and use that learning to help us improve. We will welcome and respect different ideas and viewpoints and will make every effort to listen, understand and be responsive where we can. We will co-design our programmes; involve people in decision-making; and routinely seek input into our development and delivery of projects and services. We will share information and knowledge and account for ourselves in line with our legal obligations.

We will strive to encourage trust, by behaving professionally and with consistency. We will make sure we have the skills and capacity to deliver our work and be honest when we lack resources and will do our best to put them in place. We will ensure we meet our legal and statutory commitments, learn from our operations and through feedback. We will practice continuous improvement and will demonstrate a keen sense of curiosity as we routinely seek to increase our learning and understanding.

This value needs to be viewed in the North Kensington context where we are dealing with the historical and systematic discrimination towards the African Caribbean community. We aspire to meet the needs of the people rooted in our diverse communities but we also need to recognise that we are all unique with different needs, experiences, histories and talents. We will embed diversity and inclusion in all we do and will lead by our behaviours. Therefore, on occasion, we may make a decision or place emphasis on something that may not always address an obvious immediate need, but there will be reasons for it, which we will explain. We will also feel able to challenge injustice or inequality within wider society, particularly as we learn from our journey regarding Anti-racism. We will respect the uniqueness of every individual and will show empathy and understanding. We are committed to creating and sustaining a culture of equity enabling people to achieve their potential, live a fulfilled life and contribute positively.

We will collaborate with others to achieve joint goals and foster genuine partnerships. We will care for our resources, act astutely to add value and leverage our assets for the benefit of the community. We embrace ambition and progression and recognise we are stronger with the support of our communities. We will take care of and enhance the land, the environment, and the built environment that has been entrusted to us. This will include taking measures to recycle and reduce our carbon footprint.