Kenmont Primary School Gets Funding for Annexe Makeover
Receives £75,000 from HS2's Community and Environment Fund
Kenmont Primary teachers and pupils in front of the annexe
July 17, 2023
A dilapidated annexe building at Kenmont Primary School is to get a makeover after it received a £75,000 grant from the HS2 Community and Environment Fund CEF.
The funding will enable the school to renovate the dilapidated space, transforming it into a new community hub for the people of College Park, Kensal Rise, and Harlesden.
The building used to host a Sure Start Centre and other activities until it was mothballed 14 years ago. It remained abandoned and neglected until earlier this year when the Kenmont Primary PTA spotted its potential.
Volunteers gave up their weekends to remove more than a decade’s worth of accumulated detritus to the Park Royal dump, as the first part of a plan to breathe new life into the old building.
For years, the area has been underserved by communal spaces – the nearest one being two miles away. The school worked with numerous local community groups, including CONGA - College Park Neighbourhood Group, chaired by Julie McBride – to demonstrate this in their grant application which was made through the council.
The school, Hammersmith and Fulham Council, and the PTA are now committed to match fund the grant and have a year to make this happen. There are also separate plans to overhaul the school’s garden and library.
The space is set to be revived as an accessible hub for the community to enjoy and, once it is up and running, it will again play host to a variety of activities.
David Collins, Executive Head of the school said, “Kenmont is really excited to have been awarded this grant from HS2. The grant enables the school to bring back into use the Annex – not just for school use, but also our local community. As a community school, we wish to support our neighbours by providing a community space that can be used by all for a variety of educational and leisure activities.”
Andy Slaughter, local MP for Hammersmith said, “Prior to the annexe falling into disrepair, I recall the Centre being well-used, allowing the community in College Park to meet each other and their elected representatives, and to host community events. I look forward to seeing the Kenmont Primary School annexe become a central hub for the community once more.”
Julie McBride, Chair of CONGA, “We are a dynamic, multi-generational, mixed demographic community with a lot of potential, and we hope to attract a wide range of people to the events, classes, community meetings, and more that will be taking place at this long-awaited Community space.”
Nazia Chishty, Chair of the PTA, “Our PTA is on a mission to make life at our small but perfectly formed school a magical experience. Integral to this are our links with the local community. In a way, the Annex project is just the beginning – our campaign to supplement the CEF grant starts now! This CEF grant was the boost we needed to galvanise our fundraising efforts for the renovation. We won’t stop until we’ve made the magic happen!”
Kenmont Primary School sits in a small – almost forgotten – part of London, officially designated as College Park, on the borders of Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF). The school is one-form entry, with only 197 pupils and a small parent body and staff, making the win a real achievement for everyone involved.
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