Life in Lockdown - An Update from HCEB Director, John Davies
It has been a strange and challenging time to be chair of a local self-funding community charity. With no income and depleted finances, it has been difficult – but the Association has received support via the Government’s Small Business Scheme to enable it to continue in the short term.
Aside from the financial challenges, perhaps the hardest thing has been watching lockdown close a thriving community hub which provides a wide range of activities and services. The loss of community social interaction is being felt by many with a probable decline of well-being for all age groups in our local area.
I have to give credit to our amazing staff who have taken a voluntary reduction in pay and continue to carry out the work needed to maintain the Community Centre. My role is a volunteer one and I have been working to provide support wherever possible. Discussions on the future of the centre and the possible long-term impact of the pandemic are ongoing.
On a personal level, I have used lockdown to compile a brief local history of our area. During the 20th Century, our area managed the transition from an agricultural economy (the “bread basket of London” ) to a manufacturing economy. This enabled the community to thrive and expand. Despite being a small area, there were over 100 firms which employed over half the working population.
By the 1980s, that manufacturing base was in terminal decline. Heathrow Airport remains a major employer and driver of economic growth. Our community has adapted before to economic shocks and changes. The right support from Government, Local Authorities and big local employers like Heathrow will enable the local community to adapt to the long-term economic consequences of the virus. Retaining the Community Centre is of vital importance and we are also looking at how we may have to adapt to the wider changing needs of the community.
Our Community Centre is now in the process of reopening. It is fantastic to see it come back to life and provide the wide range of activities and services to the community again (in line with government guidance). The local council are also supporting us in providing a major upgrade to the centre’s facilities over the next few months.
Community Centres like ours are a vital part of life around Heathrow Airport. With the suspension of Expansion pressing the pause button on that contentious activity, it is important that Heathrow Airport see this as an opportunity for an all-systems-go approach to community engagement and supporting local community organisations, complimented by a credible independent engagement and scrutiny body to hold them to account.
John Davies is Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Yiewsley & West Drayton Community Association. A self-financing charity responsible for the running of a Community Centre. He is a non-executive board member of the HCEB Ltd and has lived in West Drayton for almost 50 years.