Who we are
. Posted in Company Info
WECH is a charitable Housing Association. Our aim is to provide homes at affordable rents for those in housing need. But WECH is not only a Housing Association, it is more over a Community organisation as we organise various community/ social services and events for the local community and therefore playing an active part in the regeneration of North Paddington.
WECH's aim over the next ten years is to continue to provide a service that is based on knowing our residents personally and having specific knowledge of the condition of WECH's property. WECH aims to build on the strong partnership between residents, staff, contractors, funders, local authority and statutory organisations and local voluntary organisations so that WECH can respond to the housing and other needs of our existing residents and contribute to the continuing regeneration of North Paddington.
WECH's overall objectives are: To fulfil the commitment made to residents at the time of transfer To provide affordable high quality homes To manage and maintain efficiently all WECH's homes and other property To maximise the number of improved homes that WECH produces consistent with its objectives To support and sustain an active community within WECH's area of operation.
In 1953 the London County Council (the LCC) purchased the Walterton estate, built between 1865 and 1885, from the Church Commissioners. During the 1950's, private landlords, including the infamous Rachman, bought up tail ends of leases due to expire in 1964, the LCC inherited a rundown, overcrowded estate where many homes lacked basic amenities.
In 1980 ownership of the area transferred from the Greater London Council to Westminster City Council. The GLC was committed under the terms of the transfer to funding major repairs and improvements on the estates. After the Thatcher government had legislated to abolish the GLC on 1 April 1986, the GLC nevertheless offered to honour its commitment by ‘deathbed’ funding to the transferee local authorities, and, shortly before it was abolished, transferred £42m. to authorities which took up the offer. However, the City Council declined the GLC’s offer, and in 1985 decided to sell off the estates to private developers - without consulting, or even informing, residents.
In 1994 the Council commissioned John Barratt to investigate the use of the tower blocks on the Elgin Estate, Hermes and Chantry Points, between 1982 and 1991. His report was published in March 1996, and stated that the residents of Hermes and Chantry Points had been at risk from the asbestos in the towers. In August 1990 the Council finally accepted the Points were not safe and moved the residents out. In 199? WECH demolished the two tower blocks and replaced them with low-rise, asbestos-free housing in Campaign and Rodborough Courts.
WECH is membership-based organisation, with every tenant and leaseholder being entitled to join. WECH currently has 604 members (over 80 % of WECH households have at least one member). The Annual General Meetings attract twenty to thirty percent of residents, to elect the fourteen resident members for the Board. Elections are frequently contested, which helps to ensure that those elected are genuinely representative and accountable.
Residents interested in getting involved have the opportunity to join one of WECH's sub committees, the Finance and Audit, Staff or Social Committee, which serves to induct residents into eventually standing for election as a Board member, as well as helping to build on their skills. All board members are supported with training sessions and an annual awayday.
The resident involvement of WECH is encouraged by the social and community activities taking place at WECH. Social events are organised by the Social Committee, which has a list of over 60 residents who have volunteered to help with the various events taking place throughout the year. All volunteers are invited to the planning meetings organised before ease event, encouraging residents to contribute their ideas to determine and shape the events taking place. The activities aim to involve residents of all ages and backgrounds. Resident control at WECH is boosted by this programme of social and community activities, helping to build a community in which residents, board members and staff work together.
• to provide benefit to the local community
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