Can you take us back to the beginning—what inspired you to start Enact over 30 years ago?
I started a software company in Enfield in 1981 with six colleagues. As a local businessperson, I led a team who created a “not for profit" company (RSA Island Village Ltd) in the mid 1990s to find a new use for the Grade II listed Machine Shop on the site of the old Royal Small Arms factory. On the rest of the site, over 1300 homes were being built. A new community on Enfield Island Village (EIV) was created as the homes started to be occupied by families. The vision for the regeneration project was to create a village centre with shops and rental space.
In the planning for EIV, no provision was made for youth on the Island and surprise, surprise a number of youngsters started to hang around and cause trouble behaving in an anti social way. We did not predict that youth facilities would be required but the need soon emerged, and I was inspired to do my best to address that need.
What were those early days like? What were some of the first challenges you faced—and what kept you going?
With no background in Youth work, I started without a plan or roadmap of how to do it. A strong business background stood me in good stead, and I had great support for my ideas from the Directors of RSA IV Ltd who also provided startup funding.
As with any business or project, the key is getting good, committed people to lead and run it. We had to create an infrastructure hence the charity Enfield Island Village Ltd (currently known as enact) was formed and included Trustees from the local housing association, the local ward Councillor (Norman Ford) and other community orientated people who I knew could deliver.
Funding was crucial and my local business contacts were called upon as I was determined enact should be financially viable. In the early days, enact received a small grant from the Local Authority but this stopped after a few years as it was not a statutory obligation. London & Quadrant the Housing Association were great and supported us financially and provided a Trustee with youth expertise to help guide us.
The early days were very much a learning experience. A part time youth worker was employed. We used the community centre to run the initial youth sessions primarily for the teenage age youngsters of which there was no shortage on the island. However, establishing relationship with the young people and getting volunteers was a challenge then and as it remains today,
Crucial in the early days was the relationship with Steve Chalke of OASIS who opened his first Academy near EIV. His Academy empire now runs to over 40 Academies across the country. The ongoing relationship with OASIS continues to be major enact benefit. The local OASIS Academies and OASIS has remained a key partner for enact.
Looking back, are there any moments or people that really stand out to you along the journey?
It is the people who stand out the most for me and who deserve the credit for what enact has achieved. The following few words cannot do justice to the immense contribution of the enact team leaders and enact Trustees.
A standout moment was when the Trustees were confident enough, to recruit a much-needed full time youth worker. The Jack Petchey foundation funded half the cost of our first full time worker for 3 years with RSA IV providing the other half and we appointed Kat Simmonds. Kat was instrumental in growing enact from a small part time facility to a vital youth provision on EIV. When Kat moved on, she joined the OASIS organisation where her career took off and she is now a senior executive at OASIS.
After Kat, we made a second remarkably successful recruitment. James Musgrove joined us and took enact forward again with an increasing range of provision. James, and his growing team including volunteers, provided fantastic leader and many young people benefited enormously from enact and his leadership.
When James and his family moved away from Enfield, a third extraordinarily successful appointment was made with Manju Jnagal joining enact. Her leadership has been outstanding as she has grown into and developed the lead role, generating lots of innovative ideas and initiatives.
Whilst exceptionally skilled professional youth workers is a prerequisite, a capable Trustee team is as important to provide direction and ensure ongoing sustainability – no easy task for a charity. I have been fortunate to have recruited Trustees with the strengths and skills needed to lead and manage enact effectively.
A vital part, of me stepping down from being Chair and a Trustee, has been ensuring that a refreshed set of Trustees will lead enact forward. During 2024, Harry Rashid joined the Trustees and Graham Jimpson a long-standing Trustee provides much needed continuity. I am confident that the new Co-Chairs Hani Armstrong and Rebecca Sycamore will lead enact trustees and the enact team to ever more success.
How have you seen the community—and enact itself—grow and change over the years?
The team has grown from a part time worker to three full time staff, paid sessional workers and a group of committed volunteers. We have seen youngsters move on from enact having benefitted enormously from their enact experience. In fact, it is fabulous when they come back and talk to the next generation of youngsters about their time at enact.
A key change has been moving from a small provision for teenagers to an “all through” provision for youngsters from 0 to 19 and their families.
I am continually impressed with the range of activities provided by enact across the age groups and comments here will not do it full justice. Suffice it to say we have thriving young leaders who we are very proud of, a flourishing allotment involving families, Tots and Kids Club, splendid cooking sessions plus many more.
Since inception, I have seen enact grow from a start up with zero youngsters to a well-respected youth charity. At enact during September and October 2024,
52 sessions were delivered.
174 Individual people attended session groups of which 19 people attended for the first time.
21 Volunteers and 3 Partnerships gave a total of 178 hours of their time.
Financially it has grown from zero turnover to just under £400,000 pa. Major funding has been provided over the years by the RSA Trust, National Lottery and many organisations.
enact has grown and become an integral part of the Enfield Island Village community for young people and families.
What does Enact mean to you now, and what do you hope people carry forward from your vision?
I am very proud of what enact has achieved over the past 30 years. Whilst never setting out with a grand plan, I have had the privilege of leading enact and seeing it evolve into a fantastic organisation with the potential to do even more. Moving forward, I hope enact will continue to provide a family and youth provision for everyone on EIV. For those youngsters and families needing extra or more specific help, I very much hope enact continues to cater for them and keeps them as an integral part of the enact family.
If you could leave one message to the next generation of leaders at Enact, what would it be?
Can I have three messages?
Ensure you keep in place a team of leaders and trustees with complimentary skills and the potential to drive enact onwards.
Respond to and plan for change, nothing stays the same.
Ensure a strong hand is kept on finances and fundraising – running a charity including enact needs money.
