About Us
One Westminster exists to serve the voluntary sector and volunteering in the City of Westminster. During this national crisis, we are supporting our local organisations with accurate information & advice. We’ve also opened a Wellbeing Chat Service and are helping the council with the volunteering effort across the city.
At One Westminster we have been working as hard as we can during the crisis to keep in touch, keep you all informed and work with Westminster City Council to establish much needed services. So far:
- We are continuing to provide you with as much useful information and advice as we can via our website, e-bulletin and emails.
- We are in regular contact with as many of you as possible, so that we can fully understand your needs, what you are experiencing day to day and what your communities and clients are facing.
- We continue to lobby on continue to lobby on on behalf of the sector regarding the payment of business rates.
- We have now hosted a number of meetings on Zoom including two very successful WCN events and a volunteer coordinators' meeting. Please continue to sign up and participate. It is so important your voices are heard.
- Our Well-being Check in and Chat Service is now well established with more than 50 volunteers making regular calls. Our One Westminster Link Workers are now working alongside colleagues in GP practices supporting the needs of their patients.
If you are aware of anyone having difficulties around obtaining, food, medicines or in need of emotional support – please contact the Westminster Connects service via the council or One Westminster website.
- Finally, we want to be there for you! If you have any questions, concerns, challenges, news – good or bad – that you wish to share with the wider voluntary and community sector in Westminster, then please do get in touch with any of us by email ideally. We would love to hear from you.
Jackie Rosenberg, One Westminster CEO
WHAT WE OFFER
We support more than 200 Westminster voluntary and community organisations to deliver their services by providing funding, governance, partnership and other relevant information and advice. Through our networks, we bring the sector's organisations together to ensure their concerns are raised and their voice is heard. We also run the Westminster Volunteer Centre linking volunteers to local organisations and providing a DBS service. Our Time & Talents programme continues to help local businesses support our sector.
From time to time we deliver direct services alone or work in partnership with other providers.
We operate out of our centrally located premises in Chapel Street and run the Pimlico Resource Centre that is used by groups in the south of the borough.
Although all our services are currently operating remotely, our offering includes:-
- Information, advice, signposting and referral services to voluntary and community sector organisations to assist them in their growth, sustainability and development.
- Community and voluntary sector information through an on-line directory, e-newsletters and opportunities to meet and network.
- Volunteering support and placement services – linking up volunteers with volunteering opportunities and providing advice and support around recruiting, training and working with volunteers.
- Community and volunteering information provided through e-newsletters and on line services.
- Corporate employee volunteering opportunities – linking corporate volunteering into Westminster’s vibrant voluntary and community sector.
ONE WESTMINSTER ANNUAL REPORTS
Please click below to see our recent annual reports.
OUR SERVICE STANDARDS
Below please find a selection of policy documents.
TRUSTEES
One Westminster has a strong Board of Trustees made up of voluntary sector representatives, private individuals and business representatives. Our Board is responsible for ensuring that we meet all our statutory obligations as a registered charity and company.
Our board members currently are:
MATTHEW AYRES (CHAIR)
Matthew read business management at the University of York after a gap year working for the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) setting up a Shared Service Division. On graduating from university in 2014, he went back to JLP to work for the Group IT Director on a large IT transformation project, before being poached in 2015 by a technology start up called Yocuda, which provides software and data solutions for retailers such as Argos, Debenhams & Halfords.
In his spare time, Matthew works for his family business, The Bennie Group, heading up the IT side of things for the eight business divisions. He also enjoys running and photography, and is an avid supporter of Northampton Saints Rugby team.
SUE ANNIS
Sue has more than 30 years of commercial, operational and retail experience, having worked for large corporate organisations such as Vodafone, Argos and Shell International Petroleum Company, where she is currently responsible for the brand, retail operating models, capability and enablement across the globe
In each of these roles Sue has taken a personal interest and lead role in corporate social responsibilities, which have included significant fundraising for worthy causes such as Cancer Research, The National Autistic Society, Teenage Cancer Trust, Anthony Nolan Trust, Children in Need, Comic Relief and Jeans for Genes.
EDMOND YEO
Edmond is a community leader and JP who is dedicated to many charitable and volunteering activities. He is the current Chair of the Chinese Information and Advice Centre (CIAC), a registered UK charity providing advocacy services and social enterprise for the Chinese community.
Edmond is also active in local politics and is a former elected councillor for the London Borough of Ealing. Recently he was Chair of the Ealing North Conservative Association and has held various other officer positions previously.
As well as being a trustee of One Westminster, he is currently a trustee of the Children’s Hope Foundation, the North London Chinese Association (NLCA), and the Chinese in Britain Forum (CiBF). He is a director of London’s Hua Yu Chinese radio station, sits as a magistrate at HMCS Ealing Magistrates’ Court and also serves on the board of Her Majesty’s Prison at Wormwood Scrubs.
PHAYZA FUDLALLA
Phayza has 20 years’ experience of working in community development in the UK and internationally. She is currently Head of Community Programmes and co-deputy CEO for Abbey Community Association & Centre, overseeing programmes to improve the health and wellbeing of people experiencing mental health conditions, rough sleeping/homelessness, low incomes or unemployment, tackling the health inequalities of ethnic minority communities and addressing the health impact of social isolation on vulnerable older people.
Previously, she worked with the Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) that supports women by providing advocacy, information and signposting. Before moving to the UK, Phayza worked with international organizations in Sudan including World Food Programme and Plan International as a researcher and Community Development Programmes Manager respectively.
VIOLA ETIENNE
Viola has more than 20 years of voluntary sector management experience. With a background in housing and community development, she has been responsible for establishing tenants’ organisations and promoting tenants’ participation in disadvantaged groups.
She has gained a great deal of experience in community cohesion through various roles, including managing a Time Bank at Carers Network and her current post as project co-ordinator at the West End Community Trust.
Viola is committed to promoting the benefits of life-long learning, through peer support programmes and ensuring that people have access to training opportunities. She believes everyone should be encouraged and supported to reach their full potential whatever their background.