31
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod**||||||||
|**From**|Period start date|||**T**
**o**|Period end date|||
||01|04|2024||31|03|2025|
Section A Reference and administration details
**Charity name** Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum **Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any)** 1188490
**Charity's principal address** Nature Connection Centre Roundwood Lodge Café, Roundwood Park, Longstone Ave, London **Postcode** NW10 3SH
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|||1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for a whole**
**year**|**Name of person**
**(or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee**
**(ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||Sandra Gillian White|Chair||Forum members|
||||Amandine
Alexandre-Hughes|||Forum members|
||||Julieta Marlene
Galarza|||Forum members|
||||Jose Trueba||From 13/07/2022 to 18/08/2024|Forum members|
||||Gavin Bond||From 19/09/2023 to 02/08/2024|Forum members|
||||Ebrahim Piperdy|Treasurer||Forum members|
||||Duane Person|||Forum members|
||||Andrea Burris|||Forum members|
||||||||
||||**Names of the trustees for the charity, if any (for example, any custodian trustees)**||||
||||**Name**||**Dates acted if not for a whole year**||
||||||||
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Names**|**and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Type of adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|||
|||||
||**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
||Ilaria Esposito - Coordinator|||
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**Section B Structure, governance and management**
## **Description of the charity’s trusts**
Type of governing document
Constitution
- (eg. Trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted
CIO Association
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods
(eg. appointed by, elected by)
Elected by the membership, with others appointed by the board of trustees as set out in the constitution
## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about:
- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
- the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
- relationship with any related parties;
- trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum has been a registered charity since
March 2020. The Forum is an NCVO member and uses the latter’s induction and training programme for new trustees through Croner HR services.
We have recently amended our constitution.
We have revised the following policies:
o Health and safety
o Grievance
o Data protection and GDPR
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
o Conflict of interest (including register and DOI)
o Financial
o Volunteering
Equality and diversity
o Reserves
Developing the following:
o Handbook **(see link here)**
**Current operational priorities include funding diversification and**
## **organisational development** :
Hiring an additional membership officer and extending the hours of our coordinator, as well as working on the implementation of Radical-based Place Leadership programme with the Council.
**Reviewing all our policies and procedures**
The creation of the handbook and the updating of our policies and terms and conditions to reflect changes in employment law have been supported by Croner, an HR consultant.
## **Background**
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum is a neighbourhood planning forum with a designated area within the Old Oak and Park Royal Development.
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Corporation (OPDC) and the London Borough of Brent (LBB). The Forum was the first neighbourhood forum to be designated by OPDC on 26 November 2015. The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) requires neighbourhood forums to apply to their respective Local Planning Authority (LPA) for re-designation every five years. Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum has successfully applied to OPDC and LBB for a 5- year redesignation.
The Forum has successfully expanded its geographical boundaries following a three-year consultation with community members from Church End and Roundwood.
The Forum has reapplied for redesignation in accordance with planning policy.
The Forum currently has 106 member organisations and 533 individual members and/or subscribers. Its work is of benefit to the overall Harlesden population (~19,000 inhabitants)
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**Section C Objectives and activities**
The objectives of the Forum are:
- The prevention or relief of poverty in Harlesden;
- To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and the economically disadvantaged community of Harlesden in such a way that they are better able to identify and help meet their needs and to participate more fully in society;
**Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document**
- To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit the provision of facilities and activities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving their conditions of life. • To promote high standards of planning or architecture in or affecting the area of benefit.
- To secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest and public amenities in the area of benefit.
- In furtherance of the above objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have the power to establish and/or maintain a neighbourhood forum for the area of benefit to promote and or improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of the area.
_Since April 2024, we have delivered a surprising number of activities._
## **1. Executive Summary & Strategic Vision**
Since April 2024, the Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum (HNF) has acted as a catalyst for local empowerment, transitioning part of his role from a reactive planning body to a leader in **"Radical Place-Based Leadership.**
**Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)**
Our work this year has been defined by two major themes: **Community Power,** shifting decision-making from top-down authorities to residents, and the formal expansion of our boundaries, which has increased our area of influence by **23%** .
## **2. Governance and Organisational Development**
To ensure the Forum remains a sustainable and legally compliant Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), we have implemented rigorous governance reforms:
- **Board Refresh & Succession:** We welcomed three new trustees: **Andrea Burris** , **Ebrahim Piperdy** (appointed as Treasurer), and **Duane Pearson** . Following the resignations of Jose Trueba (due to relocation) and Gavin Bond (due to health), these appointments have stabilised our board. All new trustees underwent a formal induction process in early 2025 to align with our 2024–2027 strategy.
- **Constitutional Modernisation: Trustee Terms (Article 17.1):** At the June 2024 Public Meeting, members unanimously voted to allow trustees who have served three consecutive terms to be reappointed for another three terms. This ensures the Forum retains vital institutional knowledge during challenging recruitment periods.
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- **Operational Move:** The Forum officially moved its registered address to the **Nature Connection Centre (NCC)** in the Roundwood Park Lodge Café.
- **Administrative Diligence:** Under the new Treasurer, we have navigated complex NatWest banking transitions to secure our financial accounts. We have also moved recurring operational costs (such as Mailchimp and GiffGaff) to a dedicated new bank account with Cooperative Bank, which is more suitable for a Charity and ensures transparency and direct control.
## **3. Boundary Extension & Statutory Planning**
This was a landmark year for our planning authority, culminating in the formal approval of our boundary extension by the **Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC)** and the **London Borough of Brent (LBB)** in September 2024.
- **The New Harlesden Map:** The extension brings vital sites into our remit, including **Newfield Primary School, Longstone Open Space, Harlesden Police Station,** and the **Chandelier Building on Scrubs Lane.** We consulted with over 380 people, face-to-face and online, to ensure this move reflected residents' desires.
- **Planning Interventions:** The planning team screened and commented on over **207 applications** . Specific highlights include:
- triggered enforcement action against an illegal shopfront installation
- **16 Craven Park Road:** We provided detailed feedback on the "Brent Hairdressing Academy" project, focusing on fire safety and the aesthetic of shutters.
- **Cargiant Traffic:** We flagged concerns about converting parking lots into warehouse distribution, which could increase heavy traffic through Harlesden.
- **Heritage Assets:** We advocated for the repair of the **Jubilee Clock** , which has been affected by rust due to a failed water fountain design, and continued to monitor the **Picture Palace** refurbishment, ensuring it remains a community destination.
- **Church Path** refurbishment and investment.
- **Bowling Green:** Certificate of Lawfulness
- HMO building rising in Harlesden: Reported concerns about newly established HMOs
- **Pub Protection:** We supported the opening of "The Ariana" (formerly Le Junction), noting that it did not strictly comply with Brent’s pub protection policy, while balancing economic growth with policy adherence.
-
**4. Environmental Advocacy & The Nature Connection Centre**
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Harlesden remains one of the UK’s most polluted areas, making our environmental work a matter of public health.
- **Breathe London & Air Quality:** We maintain a live air quality monitoring node on the High Street. Residents can now access real-time data via the Breathe London website. We secured funding via the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund to keep this node active for another two years.
- **The Nature Connection Centre (NCC) Master Plan:** In partnership with **Forest & Family** , we launched a vision to transform Roundwood Park into a "radical new vision for urban parks." The plan includes:
- Refurbishing unused storage containers for community use.
- Developing the **Edible Garden** and **Outdoor Workshop space** .
- Creating a "Green Neighbourhood Hub" by the end of 2025.
- **Infrastructure & Greening:** We celebrated the approval of **£3 million in CIL expenditure** for the Church End and Roundwood Green Corridors.
- We also supported the planting of a community orchard at **Longstone Avenue** and the refurbishment of the **Tubbs Road Pocket Park** , for which we received NCIL funding, scheduled for completion in Spring 2025.
- **Clean Air Murals:** In March 2024, we supported a mural project at **Park Parade** using air-purifying paint to inspire active travel and improve local air quality.
## **5. Community Power, Culture & Heritage**
We believe that a positive rebranding of Harlesden is essential to its regeneration.
- **1000 Years of Harlesden (Rounds 2 & 3):** Following the success of the HAZ program, we secured **£5,000 from the Edward Harvist Trust** for a third round.
- The project has produced **90 art workshop attendees** and **50 new artworks in round 2** .
- **Physical Outcomes:** 15 selected artworks are being printed on tote bags, canvas, and postcards for display and sale in local shops.
- Our local MP has some of the work printed on canvas in their office, and organisations like Harlesden Baseline have engaged to pair this project with their vision for **the Harlesden Walk of Fame** .
- **The Lighthouse (60 High Street):** We hosted a major public meeting at this aspirational space in November 2024, featuring **Refugee Education UK** . Our goal is to ensure this building remains a community-facing asset rather than a purely commercial one.
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**Relationship with Planning Authorities** We continue to maintain a strong relationship with Brent Council's planning department.
- **Picture Palace:** The refurbishment is proceeding under the Council's management with a new tender process. The Forum continues to advocate for the building to be a community destination and will oversee planning as outlined in the Neighbourhood Plan. The Forum will eventually join the steering group for the management of this community asset
**Radical Place Leadership: We** are working hand in hand with the Council Leadership team. **Radical Place Leadership:** Harlesden has been chosen as a pilot for this programme, which aims to shift power to communities by moving away from top-down models toward coproduction with residents, the police, and the voluntary sector.
- **Safer Neighbourhoods:** We have deepened our relationship with the **Metropolitan Police (SNT)** . Trustees and volunteers attend these meetings to ensure that resident concerns regarding ASB and safety are addressed through collaboration rather than solely through policing.
## **6. Communication and Membership Growth**
Our reach continues to expand through digital and physical engagement:
- **Direct Outreach:** 20 newsletters sent to **507 members** and **94 partner organisations** .
- **Digital Growth:** Organic search traffic increased by **30%** , and social media followers grew by **20%** .
- **Public Forums:** We held successful meetings at **Tavistock Hall (AGM)** , the **NCC** , and **Kaleo Common Ground** , diversifying our audience and consistently attracting between 35-50 residents per session.
## **7. Financial Strategy & Funding**
- **City Bridge Trust:** The application for additional core funding was unsuccessful.
- **Trust for London:** We successfully secured new funding for 2024–2025, with final reporting scheduled for July 2025.
- **National Lottery:** We have submitted an application for the "Reaching Community Grant" to cover core funding, including a CEO role. This was developed with the support of a bid writer, with results expected later in 2025.
- **Brent Giving:** The Forum is now officially a partner and a member of the steering group of **Brent Giving** , a community-led initiative to tackle poverty in Brent.
- **Edward Harvist Trust:** We successfully secured £5,000 to fund the 3rd Edition of the "1000 Years of Harlesden" project.
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**Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)**
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We have a volunteer policy and a process for recruiting volunteer ambassadors who carry out community engagement work on topics of interest to the local community:
You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about:
- policy on grantmaking;
- policy programme-related investment;
- contribution made by volunteers.
- Clean air and a clean environment
- Green spaces enhancement
- Antisocial behaviour in the town centre
- Community events
- Art and culture
- Planning
- local economy and regeneration
- health
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Section D Achievements and Performance
**Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year**
We set our expected outcomes, and the following explains our progress toward them. We set our expected outcomes for the 2024–2025 period, and the following explains our significant progress toward them. **Outcome 1: Community members have greater involvement in local development and planning, as well as in other decisions affecting the local area.**
- **Forum Public Meetings Organised (4):** Including a major AGM at Tavistock Hall (Feb 2024), a relaunch at the Nature Connection Centre (June 2024), a heritage-focused meeting at The Lighthouse (Nov 2024), and a "Community Power" session at Kaleo Common Ground (Dec 2025).
- ● **Trustee Recruitment & Governance:** Successfully recruited and inducted **three new trustees** (Andrea Burris, Duane Pearson, and Ebrahim Piperdy as Treasurer) to diversify board expertise.
- ● **Constitutional Reform:** Members unanimously voted to amend **Article 17.1** to allow experienced trustees to serve additional terms, ensuring organisational stability. We also formalised a **"No Membership Fee"** policy to ensure total inclusivity.
- ● **Boundary Extension Success:** After two years of consultation with **380+ residents** , our proposal to extend the Forum’s boundaries was officially approved by the OPDC and Brent Council in September 2024. The Forum now represents a **23% larger area** , including Church End and Roundwood.
- **Statutory Planning Monitoring:** * The planning team screened and commented on **over 207 planning applications** . ○ **Enforcement Success:** Triggered Brent Council enforcement at regarding an illegal shopfront.
○ **Advocacy:** Provided critical feedback on **16 Craven Park Road** (Brent Hairdressing Academy) regarding fire safety and aesthetic shutters, and successfully campaigned against an adult gaming centre at Park Parade. **Outcome 2: The town centre is improved in line with a vision established by the community, as identified by the Harlesden Heritage Action Zone and the Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan.** (i). As part of the Brent Local Plan and in line with the Harlesden NP, we have identified areas for improvement with the town manager. We identified buildings where murals could be painted around various themes included in the Neighbour Plan. We investigated ways to reduce fly-tipping and waste reduction with the neighbourhood manager. Supported Harlesden town garden and local schools to connect for educational purposes and ensured more children and young people knew about hidden but well-preserved spaces in Harlesden.
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Section D Achievements and Performance
- **1000 Years of Harlesden (Round 3):** Secured **£5,000 from the Edward Harvist Trust** to continue this heritage project. Over 50 artworks were submitted by residents, and 15 were selected for high-quality merchandise (tote bags, water bottles, postcards) currently sold in local shops to promote town pride.
- ● **Clean Air Murals:** Commissioned and monitored the progress of airpurifying murals in **Park Parade** (completion March 2025) to improve the visual environment and tackle pollution.
- **The Picture Palace & The Lighthouse:** Actively monitored the Council’s refurbishment of the Picture Palace, advocating for its return as a community destination. We are also influenced by the change of use for **60 High Street (The Lighthouse)** from commercial to communityfocused space.
- ● **Breathe London:** Maintained a live air-quality node on the High Street, allowing residents to monitor real-time pollution data, and integrated this with the **Clean Air Day** celebrations in June 2025.
**Outcome 3: Increased championing of good planning and economic development via neighbourhood planning. Strategic 2024–2027 Refresh:** Developed a new three-year strategy focusing on **"Radical Place-Based Leadership"** and **"Community Power,"** moving from reactive reporting to proactive co-production of services. **Financial Sustainability:** Secured **£55,000 in core funding from Trust for London** and submitted a major "Reaching Communities" National Lottery bid to fund a permanent CEO role. **Business Engagement:** Deepened ties with the Harlesden Business Association and local shopkeepers through the distribution of Forum merchandise and participation in town-centre networking events. **Safer Neighbourhoods:** A designated trustee (Andrea Burris) now attends **SNT (Police) meetings** , successfully shifting the focus from top-down police reporting to a model where resident suggestions lead the agenda. We are working closely with the Locality organisation to begin revising and rewriting the neighbourhood Plan. The Planning team Involvement in the OPDC meeting and consultations is bringing a different perspective on regeneration on the boundaries **Outcome 4: Residents have increased access to green spaces and knowledge of new spaces in use, including housing.** The Nature Connection Centre now has a master and a draft consortium agreement under the council's revision. **Nature Connection Centre Vision and Master Plan Vision**
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Section D Achievements and Performance
||Imagine a park that can radically reframe residents' relationship with nature. A
park that transforms how residents perceive the relationship between the park,
Nature, and their lives. A park shows visitors how to harness and support
Nature for their benefit, their community, and the planet — not just during a
park visit but in their everyday lives. What if that park represented a radical new
vision for urban parks across the country, providing a living test ground for
replicating and scaling that vision across the UK?
**Welcome to the Nature Connection Centre NW10.**We are that vision and
first test centre—a new approach to park-based community and environmental
cohesion, connection, and wellbeing and an experimental new model for park
regeneration and sustainability. A consortium-led centre embracing "What if?"
thinking, innovative collaboration, community aspiration and imagination. And
where better to begin than in Brent, where limited access to Nature, poor health
outcomes, and ambitious climate targets demand new collaboration models,
holistic thinking, and big vision.
**Master Plan**
Our ambition is grand. The project master plan covers an area within
Roundwood Park encompassing the café, central garden, edible garden,
Nature Connection Centre shed office and outdoor workshop space, two as yet
unused storage containers, the bowling green hut and grounds, and semi-
woodland Forest School and Outdoor Learning zone behind the playground.
Under the master plan, these areas will be unified under a single vision for the
UK’s first park-based Nature Connection Centre and the hub for Brent’s
pioneering new Green Neighbourhood plan.
**Nature Connection Centre Timeline (Phase 1 & 2)**
**Phase**
**Description**
**Actions & Outcomes**
Phase
1
(2019-
2024)
Project vision,
conceptualisation
, development,
first-phase
funding and
implementation
- Redevelopment of the park and café sites, including
the creation of the Nature Connection Centre base
(office space, storage, and outdoor workshop), forest
school and outdoor learning space, edible garden,
café garden play space, garden flower beds, water
harvestingsystem,and compostingarea.
Proof of Concept
- Demonstrated feasibility through successfully
delivering a wide range of community services and
activities spanning all ages.
- Proof of Concept activity includes Forest & Family
forest school and outdoor learning programs (for
schools, hard-to-reach groups and teens,
homeschooling families, local families, parents and
toddlers); establishment of the weekly Roundwood
Gardening Club, community events like Stories by
Moonlight, Nature Connection Centre open days,
multiple community workshops and meetings, and
various sustainability-focused events). Successful
funding bids/acquisitions from NCIL, Natural
England, RHS, Groundworks, London National Park
City,Brent Together Towards Zero.
Partnership and
Consortium
Development
- Core project partner agreement: Forest & Family,
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Roundwood
Lodge
Consortium partners: Besides the project leads, the
consortium includes five additional partners
(groups/social enterprises/organisations)offering|Imagine a park that can radically reframe residents' relationship with nature. A
park that transforms how residents perceive the relationship between the park,
Nature, and their lives. A park shows visitors how to harness and support
Nature for their benefit, their community, and the planet — not just during a
park visit but in their everyday lives. What if that park represented a radical new
vision for urban parks across the country, providing a living test ground for
replicating and scaling that vision across the UK?
**Welcome to the Nature Connection Centre NW10.**We are that vision and
first test centre—a new approach to park-based community and environmental
cohesion, connection, and wellbeing and an experimental new model for park
regeneration and sustainability. A consortium-led centre embracing "What if?"
thinking, innovative collaboration, community aspiration and imagination. And
where better to begin than in Brent, where limited access to Nature, poor health
outcomes, and ambitious climate targets demand new collaboration models,
holistic thinking, and big vision.
**Master Plan**
Our ambition is grand. The project master plan covers an area within
Roundwood Park encompassing the café, central garden, edible garden,
Nature Connection Centre shed office and outdoor workshop space, two as yet
unused storage containers, the bowling green hut and grounds, and semi-
woodland Forest School and Outdoor Learning zone behind the playground.
Under the master plan, these areas will be unified under a single vision for the
UK’s first park-based Nature Connection Centre and the hub for Brent’s
pioneering new Green Neighbourhood plan.
**Nature Connection Centre Timeline (Phase 1 & 2)**
**Phase**
**Description**
**Actions & Outcomes**
Phase
1
(2019-
2024)
Project vision,
conceptualisation
, development,
first-phase
funding and
implementation
- Redevelopment of the park and café sites, including
the creation of the Nature Connection Centre base
(office space, storage, and outdoor workshop), forest
school and outdoor learning space, edible garden,
café garden play space, garden flower beds, water
harvestingsystem,and compostingarea.
Proof of Concept
- Demonstrated feasibility through successfully
delivering a wide range of community services and
activities spanning all ages.
- Proof of Concept activity includes Forest & Family
forest school and outdoor learning programs (for
schools, hard-to-reach groups and teens,
homeschooling families, local families, parents and
toddlers); establishment of the weekly Roundwood
Gardening Club, community events like Stories by
Moonlight, Nature Connection Centre open days,
multiple community workshops and meetings, and
various sustainability-focused events). Successful
funding bids/acquisitions from NCIL, Natural
England, RHS, Groundworks, London National Park
City,Brent Together Towards Zero.
Partnership and
Consortium
Development
- Core project partner agreement: Forest & Family,
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Roundwood
Lodge
Consortium partners: Besides the project leads, the
consortium includes five additional partners
(groups/social enterprises/organisations)offering|Imagine a park that can radically reframe residents' relationship with nature. A
park that transforms how residents perceive the relationship between the park,
Nature, and their lives. A park shows visitors how to harness and support
Nature for their benefit, their community, and the planet — not just during a
park visit but in their everyday lives. What if that park represented a radical new
vision for urban parks across the country, providing a living test ground for
replicating and scaling that vision across the UK?
**Welcome to the Nature Connection Centre NW10.**We are that vision and
first test centre—a new approach to park-based community and environmental
cohesion, connection, and wellbeing and an experimental new model for park
regeneration and sustainability. A consortium-led centre embracing "What if?"
thinking, innovative collaboration, community aspiration and imagination. And
where better to begin than in Brent, where limited access to Nature, poor health
outcomes, and ambitious climate targets demand new collaboration models,
holistic thinking, and big vision.
**Master Plan**
Our ambition is grand. The project master plan covers an area within
Roundwood Park encompassing the café, central garden, edible garden,
Nature Connection Centre shed office and outdoor workshop space, two as yet
unused storage containers, the bowling green hut and grounds, and semi-
woodland Forest School and Outdoor Learning zone behind the playground.
Under the master plan, these areas will be unified under a single vision for the
UK’s first park-based Nature Connection Centre and the hub for Brent’s
pioneering new Green Neighbourhood plan.
**Nature Connection Centre Timeline (Phase 1 & 2)**
**Phase**
**Description**
**Actions & Outcomes**
Phase
1
(2019-
2024)
Project vision,
conceptualisation
, development,
first-phase
funding and
implementation
- Redevelopment of the park and café sites, including
the creation of the Nature Connection Centre base
(office space, storage, and outdoor workshop), forest
school and outdoor learning space, edible garden,
café garden play space, garden flower beds, water
harvestingsystem,and compostingarea.
Proof of Concept
- Demonstrated feasibility through successfully
delivering a wide range of community services and
activities spanning all ages.
- Proof of Concept activity includes Forest & Family
forest school and outdoor learning programs (for
schools, hard-to-reach groups and teens,
homeschooling families, local families, parents and
toddlers); establishment of the weekly Roundwood
Gardening Club, community events like Stories by
Moonlight, Nature Connection Centre open days,
multiple community workshops and meetings, and
various sustainability-focused events). Successful
funding bids/acquisitions from NCIL, Natural
England, RHS, Groundworks, London National Park
City,Brent Together Towards Zero.
Partnership and
Consortium
Development
- Core project partner agreement: Forest & Family,
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Roundwood
Lodge
Consortium partners: Besides the project leads, the
consortium includes five additional partners
(groups/social enterprises/organisations)offering|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Phase**|
**Description**|**Actions & Outcomes**|
||Phase
1
(2019-
2024)|Project vision,
conceptualisation
, development,
first-phase
funding and
implementation|- Redevelopment of the park and café sites, including
the creation of the Nature Connection Centre base
(office space, storage, and outdoor workshop), forest
school and outdoor learning space, edible garden,
café garden play space, garden flower beds, water
harvestingsystem,and compostingarea.|
|||Proof of Concept|- Demonstrated feasibility through successfully
delivering a wide range of community services and
activities spanning all ages.
- Proof of Concept activity includes Forest & Family
forest school and outdoor learning programs (for
schools, hard-to-reach groups and teens,
homeschooling families, local families, parents and
toddlers); establishment of the weekly Roundwood
Gardening Club, community events like Stories by
Moonlight, Nature Connection Centre open days,
multiple community workshops and meetings, and
various sustainability-focused events). Successful
funding bids/acquisitions from NCIL, Natural
England, RHS, Groundworks, London National Park
City,Brent Together Towards Zero.|
|||Partnership and
Consortium
Development|- Core project partner agreement: Forest & Family,
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Roundwood
Lodge|
||||Consortium partners: Besides the project leads, the
consortium includes five additional partners
(groups/social enterprises/organisations)offering|
March **2012**
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Section D Achievements and Performance
community services aligned with the Nature Connection Centre vision, investing in the local community, and understanding its unique needs. - Lead Council Department – the Climate Department is the lead project partner within the Council and will manage/oversee internal council and cross-departmental engagement.
|**Phase**|
**Description**|**Targets**|
|---|---|---|
|Phase
2
(2024-
2028)|Relaunch of
Nature
Connection
Centre|- Public relaunch June 2024
- Project partners will seek funding to implement the
second stage, including masterplan development and
furtherproject and site development|
||Align Nature
Connection
Centre's vision
with Brent
Council Green
Neighbourhood
Hub and strategy|- The council's target is for everything from the café
garden to the forest school and outdoor learning
space to be the hub for the Nature Connection
Centre and Brent Green Neighbourhood by the end
of 2025.|
||Long-Term
Strategy|- For Nature Connection Centre NW10 to achieve
long-term sustainability – focusing on a mixed
deliveryself-sustainingmodel - bythe end of 2028.|
||Nature
Connection
Centre (NCC)
national
framework|-Feasibility and concept advocacy for
regional/national NCC scalability will be led by
Project Visioner/Lead (Katie Mills/Forest & Family) in
conjunction with broader work and research,
networks,and IP.|
We are proud to share one unexpected outcome: we have galvanised residents to tackle local anti-social behaviour issues linked to local drug dealing and latenight socialising on their streets. A trustee and resident have been central to bringing together various stakeholders, including police, residents, businesses and local councillors, to establish a way forward.
We have created new consortia of organisations that want to reduce poverty in the Harlesden Connect area (Harlesden, Church End and Roundwood, Stonebridge)
In the last six months, our cooperation with local Councillors has worked well, with dialogue and joint work on matters.
March **2012**
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## **Section E Financial review**
**A brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves**
The reserves we have set aside provide financial stability and the means for developing our principal activity. We intend to maintain our reserves at a level which is at least equivalent to 6 months of operating expenditure.
**Details of any funds materially** Not applicable **in deficit**
## **Further financial review details (Optional information)**
Trust for London, a London-based charity funder, is the primary source of You **may choose** to include funding for this period. The grant conditions specify that this restricted additional information, where funding will be spent primarily on staffing and other costs. relevant, about:
- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
This year's second funding source is the London Engagement sources of funds (including Collaborative, a partnership between the Greater London Authority and any fundraising); Brent Council. It funds the development of the Nature Connection Centre, ● how expenditure has edible garden, and Forum Green Neighbourhoods activities. supported the key objectives of the charity;
- investment policy and objectives, including any ethical investment policy adopted.
## **Section F Other optional information**
## **Section G Declaration**
> **[The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. ]**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)** Sandra White **Full name(s) Positie.g. (e.g. Secretary,** Chair **Chair, etc) Date** 30 January 2026
March **2012**
**TAR**
14
**Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum 1188490**
**Receipts and payments accounts** 01/04/2024 31/03/25 **For the period from To**
**CC16a**
## **Section A Receipts and payments**
**Unrestricted funds Restricted funds**
## **Endowment funds**
## **Total funds**
**Last year**
|**A1 Receipts**|**to the nearest £**
**1217.50**
**100.00**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**to the nearest £**
**1217.50**
**100.00**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**to the nearest £**
**40939.00**
**-**
**1650.00**
**-**
**2230.00**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**to the nearest £**
**40939.00**
**-**
**1650.00**
**-**
**2230.00**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**to the nearest £**
**40939.00**
**1217.50**
**1650.00**
**100.00**
**2230.00**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**to the nearest £**
**40939.00**
**1217.50**
**1650.00**
**100.00**
**2230.00**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**to the nearest £**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Central Fund|||**40939.00**||**-**||**40939.00**||**-**|
|Donation|**1217.50**||**-**||**-**||**1217.50**||**-**|
|Groundwork UK|||**1650.00**||**-**||**1650.00**||**-**|
|Refund|**100.00**||**-**||**-**||**100.00**||**-**|
|YoungBrent Foundation|||**2230.00**||**-**||**2230.00**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_|**1317.50**||**44819.00**||**-**||**46136.50**||**5623**|
||**-**
**-**||**-**
**-**||**-**
**-**||**-**
**-**|||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales, (see**
**table).**||||||||||
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|||
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Total receipts_**
**A3 Payments**||||||||||
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-£157.00**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**||**-£24,061.79**
**-£2,089.88**
**-**
**-£5,985.11**
**-£625.89**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**||**0**
**0**
**-£157.00**
**0**
**0**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|||
|Staff Costs|||**-£24,061.79**||**-**||**0**||**-**|
|IT Revenue Costs|||**-£2,089.88**||**-**||**0**||**-**|
|Insurance|**-£157.00**||**-**||**-**||**-£157.00**||**-**|
|Other Administrative Costs|||**-£5,985.11**||**-**||**0**||**-**|
|PropertyDeliveryand Forum Meetings|||**-£625.89**||**-**||**0**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**|**-157**||**-£32,762.67**||**-**||**-157**||**-31700**|
||**-**
**-**||**-**
**-**||**-**
**-**||**-**
**-**|||
|**A4 Asset and investment purchases,**
**(see table)**||||||||||
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|||
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|||
|**_Sub total_**|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_**||||||||||
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|||||||||||
||**1160.50**||**12056.33**||**-**||**45979.50**||**-26076**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**1160.50**||**12056.33**||**-**||**45979.50**||**-26076**|
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Categories Details**
|**he period**|**he period**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Unrestricted funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**||**Restricted funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**||**Endowment funds**
**to nearest £**|
|**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**-**||**-**||**-**|
|OK||OK||OK|
## **B1 Cash funds** _**Total cash funds**_
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) **Details**
|trustees
**B4 Assets retained for the charity’s**
**own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B3 Investment assets**|**Details**
**Details**
Signature
**Details**
**Details**|**Unrestricted funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which asset**
**belongs**
**Fund to which asset**
**belongs**
**Fund to which liability**
**relates**
Print Name|
|---|---|---|
|||Ebrahim Piperdy (Treasurer)|
||||
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum **members of On accounts for the year** 31st March 2025 **Charity no** 1188490 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** Above
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31 / 03 / 2025** .
- **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Date:** 30/01/2026 **Signed: Name:** Tomas Wilcox **Relevant professional** FCIE **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** Counterculture Partnership LLP 23 St Leonards Road, Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex, TN40 1HH
1
**October 2018**
**IER**
**Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
2
**October 2018**
**IER**