Residents of North Paddington gathered to celebrate the opening of The Exchange—a vibrant new community hub located at Ernest Harriss House and run in partnership with North Paddington Foodbank.
Developed by Westminster City Council, The Exchange will serve as a one-stop space for local residents to access essential services and take part in a range of inclusive community activities. The hub will offer support in areas such as housing, finances, employment, digital skills and wellbeing.
Designed in collaboration with over 400 residents, the space was shaped to reflect local needs and aspirations. The council also partnered with Flourish, a local not-for-profit initiative, to design a welcoming, community-centred space.
At the launch, Cllr Cara Sanquest, Cabinet Member for Communities, said:
“I’m so excited to officially launch The Exchange at Ernest Harriss House – Westminster City Council’s brand new community hub. This space marks an important step in improving how the council delivers support directly within neighbourhoods.
“It’s more than just a hub—it’s a place to connect, to learn, and to feel supported, whether that’s through lunch clubs, coffee mornings, skills training or health classes. The Exchange is here to make sure residents can access vital services close to home.”
The Exchange joins a growing network of community hubs, following the launch of mini-hubs at Victoria and Charing Cross Libraries last year.
Located at 61 Elgin Avenue, W9 2DB, The Exchange is open Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm, and Saturday 8am–4pm, with Sundays reserved for private bookings.
