History

Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust (CGDHT) was set up by the well-established Covent Garden Community Association (CGCA), with support from LB Camden, to provide an independent (but connected) Charitable Company to manage and develop the new community resource, now known as Dragon Hall, which will be leased from LB Camden for an initial period of 25 years. It was originally planned that the Dragon Hall would be operational by Spring 2002, however - as is often the case in complex developments like this - the original timetable proved unrealistic.

CGDHT is currently a voluntary based organisation, relying heavily on the efforts of a small core of people, to drive things forward within their already busy and demanding schedules. Additionally there has been a growing awareness that the increasingly complex operating environment within which community based organisations work required additional capacity to turn the shared vision for Dragon Hall into a reality.

LB Camden therefore made available, in early 2003, a small development grant, via the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF), to CGDHT to enable them to commission relevant independent consultants to work with them, and the wider community, in developing a realistic and sustainable plan for the use of Dragon Hall. In particular, although not exclusively, a focus for this work was to develop a programme of activities aimed at promoting social inclusion and tackling anti-social behaviour, amongst young people in the locality. Results of this consultation are below.

CGDHT and the Dragon Hall found itself in a "catch 22" situation, over which it has little direct control. A building existed that, with relatively minor additional works and fitting out, was ready to be used and to start generating some, initially limited income, however CGDHT had no control over when they might be able to legally occupy the space, as this was in the hands of LB Camden and the developers.

The occupation of the building had been delayed by difficulties with the developer. Although all the handover problems are not yet fully resolved the keys have now been handed over and the Dragon Hall Trust is able to occupy the premises.

Community consultation

Wide-ranging consultations with local residents and community organisations have been taking place during the development period. It became evident through these meetings that: -

Local residents welcomed the availability of a community resource of this type - and were prepared to assist in its ongoing development and management.
A number of existing community organisations needed this type of resource both to provide them with a central base and from where they could deliver services.
Local schools and theatre groups were anxious to make use of the facilities.
The combination of its location and the facilities available will help provide a single focus for community based activities enabling partnership activity and the joint development and delivery of services.

The two main issues presented by local residents when we spoke to them were concerns about the prevalence and problems arising from drug use in the area and a lack of facilities for local young people. The community organisations we spoke to were anxious to be able to make use of the facilities both as a resource for delivering services and as a means of helping them develop their own physical and administrative capacity to develop, deliver and sustain activities.

It also appears to be the case that some Covent Garden residents, for example some older people and ethnic minority groups are not currently engaged in community activity. Bengali women were mentioned particularly.

It became evident during discussions that there was considerable scope at the very least for a more efficient sharing of resources and to jointly take a more strategic overview of the needs of the area -avoiding overlaps and duplication and addressing clear gaps in provision.