Serving the people of North Kensington since 1960, the Venture Community Association (VCA) is a multi-purpose and innovative charity, comprising: the oldest Adventure Playground in the UK, Notting Hill Adventure Playground, delivering OFSTED registered children’s services; the UK’s only purpose built Steel Panyard and a thriving Community Centre.
We are dedicated to building stronger more inclusive communities, providing new experiences and opportunities for individuals and groups that are disadvantaged, socially excluded and vulnerable.
Our charity is located in the heart of North Kensington’s Golborne ward, ranked London’s joint poorest ward in 2012 with 55% of children living in poverty.
We run a range of community projects to support children and their families, older people, newly-arrived communities, and unemployed people. We also invite other charities and community groups to operate from our premises, so together we can meet the diverse and often complex needs of local people.
Our Adventure Playground supports over 500 local children aged 5-15 many of whom experience poor social conditions which include poverty, crime, antisocial behaviour, low educational attainment and inadequate housing conditions all of which have a negative impact on their lives and experiences. They tend to have low aspirations, self-esteem and self-confidence. Many of the families that we help struggle to access extracurricular and recreational activities after school, at the weekend and during the holidays.
