WECH – Resident control in action

WECH: More than just a home

We've come a long way since the campaigns in the 80s. Watch WECH Thriving Residents in Action story so far

We have a proud history and this is a rare opportunity to work with a motivated group of residents in an organisation which is a beacon of good practice in community leadership....

Winter Newsletter

INSIDE: Sadly after nearly 27 years our CEO Andy says goodbye, Over 60s party, A message from Chieto and much more...

WECH: More than just a home

We've come a long way since the campaigns in the 80s. Watch WECH Thriving Residents in Action story so far

Online Photo Gallery

Over 60s Christmas Parties, AGMs, Summer Festivals & many more pictures...

Welfare & Arrears advice with Coral

Are you concerned about rent arrears?
Do you need help and advice with welfare benefit issues?
Are you claiming all the benefits you are entitled to?

Residents in action

Walterton & Elgin Community homes (WECH) is a successful resident controlled housing association in Westminster. We emerged from the struggle of residents against the sale of their homes to private developers.

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Featured

Elgin Scheme

New Homes

Elgin Estate Regeneration

Progress

To completion 81%

Elgin scheme news

What will be built?

43 new homes
12 for rent to key workers from Westminster’s intermediate tenancy list
31 for rent at the Mayor’s London Living Rent levels
A new bigger community centre on Elgin Avenue
A new bigger nursery and community offices
A facelift for existing homes on the Elgin estate
A number of communal rooftop gardens
Improved play facilities
Improved security
Lifts in the new archway blocks that will also serve existing flats in four storey blocks on Athens and Kincardine gardens

How much will it cost?

Seventeen and a half Million pounds

How will it be funded?

£4.3 million from Westminster City Council
£2.6 million from the Greater London Authority
£9 million from bank loans. WECH will borrow this and repay it from the rents that will be charged on the 43 new flats and from its existing homeless scheme. When the loan has been repaid, we will be able to let these flats at WECH rents.
The rest from WECH’s own resources

Will rents be increased to pay for the scheme?

No. The financing of the scheme comes from the income generated from the rents charged and the grant from Westminster City Council.

Latest News

Keeping Fire Escapes And Balconies Clear

Chief Executive Recruitment

After 27 Years Andy Is Retiring

Power to the people! Could Kensington tenants run their own homes?

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About WECH

About

Who
Where
How What
When Why

How we Started

Who we are

Walterton & Elgin Community homes

(WECH) is a successful resident controlled housing association in Westminster. It emerged from the struggle of residents against the sale of their homes to private developers. It is now a beacon of how resident control can not only revitalise the physical environment of run down estates but also create sustainable and inclusive communities from the bottom up. The important lesson that WECH has learned is that the increased participation of residents in determining the delivery of services is essential to the provision of high quality and responsive services. WECH is fully committed to working in an inclusive way to try to respond to the expressed wishes of our residents wherever possible. We believe that by working in partnership with our residents and other stakeholders in our community we have been able to improve the quality of our homes, the quality of the lives of our residents and have contributed to an improvement in the overall quality of the environment in which are homes exist.

Background

Resident control

Aims and Objectives

Community Land Trust

Residents

Get Involved

WECH is a resident led housing association and is set up and managed in a way to maximize and encourage resident involvement in many different ways. WECH acknowledges that its residents have a vast range of skills, experiences and information and may already play an active role in their local community. WECH wants to help you further develop these skills, to encourage residents to know and care about their neighbours and the local environment and to make WECH a nicer place to live.

Nine Reasons to be Involved

No involvement leads to decisions at WECH being made for you not with you
Have a say in what goes on and start to make your area a better place to live
Your voice will be heard
You will make a difference
You can choose when and how you get involved
The smallest contribution can have the biggest impact
You will see the results of your efforts and benefit from them
You will use your time constructively, doing something positive for your community
You will get to know your neighbours, staff and resident Board members

Seven Benefits of Getting Involved

Free training, development and support opportunities for resident Board members
WECH will cover expenses incurred, such as childcare for attendance of meetings
Providing you with invaluable experience to add to your CV
Social activity
Getting to know your neighbours
Improving the community you live in
You can see your ideas put into action, helping you to get community a project/ activity started and working.

Your Council

Some useful services that City of Westminster provides to help you

FoodBank

The North Paddington Foodbank is here for you and volunteers too.

Find out more

Resource Hub

Publications

Financial Statements

Annual Reports

Newsletters

Handbooks & Complaints form

Established	WECH was registered as a Housing Association in April 1991 and received the transfer of stock from Westminster City Council on 6 April 1992.
Properties	WECH has 640 homes 489 in Victorian terraces on Walterton estate 151 in the Elgin estate 496 tenanted households 144 leasehold households
Board	The WECH Board consists of 14 members elected from WECH shareholders, over 70% of whom are residents and up to 6 members co-opted for their knowledge and expertise. Details of the current Board can be found in the latest Annual Report.
CEO	The CEO is Andrew Watson B. Sc.(Hons), CQSW, MBA. He has been in post since May 1999.
Turnover	Turnover and other finance details can be found in the latest Annual Report and Audited Accounts in our Resource hub.
Development	WECH is carrying out a £17.5 million new build and upgrade scheme on the Elgin Estate. If the remaining 70 Walterton houses still belonging to Westminster City Council are transferred to WECH a further £7 million will be spent on their refurbishment.
Local authority	City of Westminster