Youth arts charity gets £2.7m to redevelop venue

Westminster City Council has awarded £2.7m to Paddington Arts to fund a major redevelopment and extension of its building.

Founded in 1988, the charity runs creative programmes for children and young people, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as offering older users career advice and guidance.

Under the plans, new facilities will include a dance studio, consultation rooms, a roof terrace, reception, café and live performance area. The expanded building will also offer workspace rental and venue hire as part of efforts to establish long-term financial resilience for the charity.

The investment forms part of Westminster Council’s North Paddington Programme and Cultural Strategy.

Cara Sanquest, the council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “Paddington Arts is a long-standing local organisation that has played a big role in the lives of generations of children and young people in North Paddington since 1988.

“This investment will enable Paddington Arts to provide more opportunities to access the arts – from drama to dance and playing steel pan – in an area with high levels of deprivation and to expand their valuable services.”