It’s great news that Labour Westminster Council has awarded £2.7 million to Paddington Arts to fund a major redevelopment of its building and expansion of the fantastic work it does with young people as part of the North Paddington Programme.

Paddington Arts, founded in 1998, is a youth arts charity based at 32 Woodfield Road W9. It runs creative programmes for children and young people, many from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The project will provide new creative, community and co-working spaces, allowing the charity to support 50% more young people each year. New facilities will include a dance studio, consultation rooms, co-working space, roof terrace, reception, café and live performance area. The new spaces will also support disability arts. mentoring and emotional well-being.

Match funding includes £1.419 million from the North Paddington Capital Budget, £1.25 million from the Paddington Arts Capital Budget, and £50,000 already approved. The Council’s support unlocks £830,000 raised by Paddington Arts from external funders, including the Garfield Weston and London Marathon Foundations.

North Paddington is now home to one of London’s Creative Enterprise Zones — part of the Council’s city-wide initiative to make space for artists and creative businesses to put down roots and grow. The designation brings new investment into skills, training and affordable workspaces, helping local people access careers in one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors. Paddington Arts is a key part of this creative infrastructure. Its expansion supports the wider ambition to make North Paddington a place where culture and opportunity go hand in hand.

Councillor Cara Sanquest, Cabinet Member for Communities, said:

I’m pleased that Westminster City Council is supporting the redevelopment of Paddington Arts with this match funding. Paddington Arts is a long-standing local organisation that has played a big role in the lives of generations of children and young people in North Paddington since 1988. This investment will enable Paddington Arts to provide more opportunities to access the arts – from drama to dance and playing steel pan – in an area with high levels of deprivation and to expand their valuable services.

 Steve Shaw, the Director of Paddington Arts says: 

Paddington Arts has been working with children and young people in our community for over thirty-five years. We came up with a scheme to build an extension to our building, to include a café, rehearsal studio, creative workspace, and a roof garden. We are delighted that the Council has agreed to provide us with the necessary funding to complete our extension, and we look forward to working together to provide much needed facilities and creative activities for our young people and for the community. This  new space will also allow us to strengthen our support and collaboration with other local organisations.