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Action needed on trustees
• IT is both sad and disappointing to see from your last edition (Friendly fire – charity trustees told to go, December 6) that the same old problems seem to be bedevilling the InterChange Trust and its poor management of Hampstead Town Hall.
As the former now “sacked” patron of the trust – I introduced Prince Charles when he declared the lottery-funded project open – I do know the score, as I am also a former trustee and vice-chairman of the trust.
However, I decided to resign five years ago when I moved permanently from London to the countryside, because I felt that, apart from formidable Helen Marcus, the trust no longer represented or responded to local opinion and had lost its way.
There is undoubtedly a need now for the trust to be revived with new blood – surely trustees can’t stay there forever. The more so when those referred to in your report do not live locally either.
Janet Wallace has her home in New Southgate, which is at least north London, while Russell Gilderson lives in Chingford, and Susan Triesman spends most of her time in Glasgow, where she works for Strathclyde University.
We need more involved and accountable trustees who can at least produce an annual report for the charity, which claims to provide media training. Indeed, take a look at its website and you will find no annual reports at all, no easily available information about any of the trustees and how to contact them or details of the finances of the trust.
Surely that can’t be right.
Indeed, I have vivid memories during my days as editor of the Ham & High in campaigning alongside Belsize residents, to prevent Camden Council flogging off Hampstead Town Hall, built and paid for by the residents of Hampstead, as a housing site, then teaming up with InterChange to take over the building for community use.
I chaired the first two public meetings that voiced Hampstead’s concerns, and public opinion frustrated Camden’s desires.
It needs to do so again and reclaim its heritage.
For the aims of the trust, as far as Hampstead is concerned, have never truly been achieved. How many times has the Town Hall’s main hall, once the scene of general election night fever and public meetings packed to hear famed orators, been used for a public event in the past year, let alone the past five?
Hampstead Town Hall ought to be a great asset to Hampstead and its residents, a place where you can hear and feel the vibes of the community, as well as to organisations beyond the local boundaries who need InterChange’s help.
It is time that the Friends of Hampstead Town Hall started taking collective action to bring about a dramatic change of direction.
Introducing new trustees who have the passion and desire to work hard inside the community is the first step, since it is plain that those who have hung on for countless years have failed to achieve the momentum and direction that is vital – and which is now being demanded. Charity begins at home. So they ought to depart pronto.
GERALD ISAAMAN
Marlborough, Wiltshire
New trustees
• It came as no surprise to me to read your report about the long-serving trustees at Hampstead Town Hall, as it has been obvious to many of us who use the Town Hall that the problem is at trustee level.
The InterChange’s chair has promised an annual report in 2008!
What about the previous few years? Did they go to the Charity Commission and no one else? Surely they could have appeared on the website ?
Lack of money to print an important document is a poor excuse, and we need new trustees who have a better understanding of their duties towards the community as soon as possible.
NIGEL STEWARD
Keats Grove, NW3
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