Paddington Development Trust

Formed by local people in 1997, PDT has five core values: mutuality; empowerment, financial independence; environmental sustainability; and equality for all communities.

For more information on social action and localism, visit our Neighbourhood Centres via the coloured tabs at the top of this page.

Happy new year for neighbourhoods

January 3rd, 2012

PDT and the Queens Park Forum start 2012 with the great news that Queens Park has been selected by the Department for Communities and Local Government to pilot an exciting new initiative that will open up participation in the co-design of local public services focusing on families.

The QP project is one of ten ‘neighbourhood level’ projects that have been selected to develop small scale Community Budgets that will give residents a micro-local level say over the services they want and use. The local community will play a leading role, working with councils and professionals, to shape local services so they work in a user friendly and integrated setting.

Angela Singhate, Chair of the Queens Park Forum said, ‘This is a great opportunity for Queens Park and works alongside our petition to become a recognised Community Council.’ Neil Johnston CEO PDT said, ‘The Neighbourhood Budget pilot provides the people of Queens Park with a chance to re-think how services to families and the wider community can be made to work better. Working together with Westminster City Council and other public services we look forward to discovering new approaches co-designed by local people and professionals.’

Posted in Project news, Trust news

RIOTS – Independent Riots Communities and Victims Panel: Interim Report

December 19th, 2011

Front cover of interim report

The Independent Riots Communities and Victims Panel (IRCVP) has been set up to examine and understand why the August 2011 riots took place.

5 Days in August Interim report

The interim report ’5 days in August’ has now been published. It sets out the expert panel’s findings and immediate recommendations for action, following a national call for evidence made on 16 September 2011.

The final report will be presented to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Official Opposition in March 2012.

In recognition of its regeneration expertise in deprived neighbourhoods, PDT recently presented its response to the 2011 riots to an IRCVP interim forum including leading experts in social unrest. Jackie Rosenberg described PDT’s work with young people and the community at large. Evidence suggests that those areas engaged in a process of transformative regeneration, like North Westminster, reacted less violently to copy-cap and bystander looting than those areas still excluded from mainstream big society.

To read the interim report, please see www.5daysinaugust.co.uk

The Panel still wants to hear from as many people as possible - the most important part of its work is to listen to the people who have been affected by the riots and to make sure everyone has the chance to have their voices heard.

The interim report includes a response form for communities, victims and organisations to provide their views to us in the second phase of our activity You can also submit your views to panel members via the contact details on the contact the panel page and follow the work of the Panel on twitter - @riotspanel.

Posted in Other news