Trust the Process: We Have A Plan

It’s no secret that the Westway Trust has faced mounting criticism from the local community for its inefficiency and opaque management style. However, my recent experience has made it clear that the organisation is not only failing to serve its purpose but has become a hostile and unsafe space for those who dare to question its operations.

I arrived at the Westway Trust’s office yesterday to discuss my ongoing attempts to rent 12 Acklam Road for a community event. This process should have been straightforward but has turned into a bureaucratic nightmare. Instead of receiving any semblance of professionalism, I was met with hostility, and most disturbingly, a direct threat of violence from a member of staff.

This encounter left me deeply shaken. After months of trying to navigate the Trust’s frustrating communication practices—emails ignored, repeated silence and hard-to-find information—this moment was the culmination of years of compounded frustration. This staff member’s unresponsiveness was not just an isolated event; it has been part of a larger pattern of disregard that many in our community have become all too familiar with. But yesterday, it crossed the line. After months of being pushed to the sidelines, I raised my voice, hoping that my frustration might finally cut through the stonewalling. Instead, I was met with a threat—a disturbing reminder of just how toxic the Trust’s environment has become.

The situation escalated so rapidly that another staff member had to intervene, stepping between us to prevent further confrontation. How did we get here? A community organisation meant to foster support and collaboration has become a place of fear and intimidation. A space that should feel safe now feels dangerous.

The most troubling part of this experience is how reflective it is of the broader issues that so many in our community have faced. This isn’t just about my interaction with one person; it’s about a pattern of neglect and disregard that extends across the Trust. I’m not the only one who’s been sidelined. Over the years, countless community members have shared similar stories—feeling dismissed, ignored, or outright excluded from the very processes that are supposed to serve us.

The Westway Trust operates in a community that has already endured more than its fair share of trauma. From the devastating Grenfell tragedy to the ongoing gentrification that threatens to erase our cultural identity, this area has been through so much. The Trust, by its mission, should be part of the healing process, helping the local community rebuild and thrive. Yet, instead of empowerment, many of us feel excluded and mistreated, as though our voices don’t matter.

The “new” Westway Trust was supposed to be different—an organisation that listens to the community, fosters collaboration and understands the delicate nuances of a community still in recovery. Yet, the behaviour I encountered, along with the experiences of many others, suggests the opposite. Rather than working with us, the Trust seems more interested in silencing dissent. Speaking out feels like a punishable offence.

This wasn’t the first time I have dealt with questionable conduct from the Trust. Last year, a member of their finance department falsely accused me of financial fraud—an entirely unfounded claim—an issue I chose not to pursue further at the time. However, this recent incident is far more serious. Not only has it left me frustrated, but it has also made me feel unsafe in a space that is supposed to represent and support our community.

And it never should have come to this. The fact that I even had to show up in person to address an issue that could have been resolved over email is absurd. It’s emblematic of the inefficiency and disregard that many of us have come to expect from the Trust. How much more of our time and emotional energy must we waste trying to navigate this broken system? My experience is just one story among many, but it highlights a larger issue that needs to be addressed.

I hope the leadership of the Westway Trust takes this seriously. The emotional toll this takes on the community is significant, but more than that, it’s reflective of a systemic issue that needs addressing. The people of this community deserve better—better communication, better respect, and better support from an organisation that is supposed to be in our corner.

This article is the second part of a series examining whether the Westway Trust has genuinely transformed their approach to community engagement or if their efforts are merely superficial.