The Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust is facing a potential budget shortfall of £88,042, according to a recent forecast presented at the Trust Committee meeting on Wednesday 24 September 2025. The shortfall is primarily due to income underachievement from the KAA2 site, which is scheduled to be decommissioned in November or December. The KAA2 site provides rental income to the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust, and its decommissioning will result in a loss of approximately £35,000 per month in income.
The committee reviewed the financial performance of the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust (WSCT) in Q1 and Q2 2025/26, with a comparison to the year-end forecast. The report pack indicated that the 2024/25 outturn is a £713,601 surplus, subject to audit.1 However, the budget for 2025/26 anticipated a net expenditure outturn of £401,947, but the current forecast at Q2 is a net expenditure outturn of £489,989.
According to the Public Reports Pack, the general unrestricted income funds at the end of 2024/25 and 2025/26 are projected at £2,846,742 and £2,356,753, respectively. Total Charity Trust funds are estimated to increase to £7,356,754 by the end of March 2026. Councillor Stanton noted that the trust funds are estimated to decrease by approximately £500,000 by the end of March 2026, as the increased expenditure on capital projects is being financed by drawing from the reserves.
Osama El-Amin, the manager of the Wyrmwood Scrubs Charitable Trust, explained that £86,000 of the £88,000 increase is due to income underachievements on the KAA2 site. He also noted that parking income has increased favourably by about £33,000 due to increased car park usage between April and July. The trust is also anticipating a boost to its coffers from the indexed increase to the value of the Hammersmith car park license.
Councillor Dominic Stanton asked for clarification on the summary of trust funds, noting a potential discrepancy between the estimated increase and the unaudited outturn charity funds. He also inquired about the sustainability of the trust's finances given the increased expenditure on capital projects. El-Amin clarified that much of the expenditure had been rolled over from previous years and that the trust is in a healthy position to afford these expenditures.
Despite the forecast shortfall, El-Amin assured the committee that the trust remains in a strong financial position, with general unrestricted income funds projected at £2.3 million. He also highlighted the significant spending on capital schemes that are being co-produced with residents, ensuring that the money is used effectively to address local needs. These capital projects include:
- LCS Athletics infrastructure improvements (£250,000)
- Kensington Dragons contribution (£203,000)
- LCS cafe (£150,000)
- LCS Dog exercise area (£10,000)
- Play Area (£150,000)
- MUGA improvements (£66,000)
- Access and CCTV improvement (115,000)
- Scrubs school, nature, art and communication activities (£22,000)
- Depot contribution and lodge options (£50,000)
- Fencing and licencing (£40.000)
- Mapping software (£5,700)
The AEM Masterplan capital works are likely to take 6-9 months, with seasonal works such as tree planting prioritized during winter months, with works to begin onsite on Monday 2nd February 2026. Phase 1 of the Braybrook play area improvement is due to start on site on 20th October 2025 and should be completed by 19th November 2025. The MUGA resurfacing behind the Old Oak Family Hub will commence at the end of September and will take up to 2 weeks to complete. Prior to works commencing, communications will be sent to all stakeholders with a detailed timeline of works.
Officers will work with local stakeholders to co-produce options for the future of the KAA2 site, before this committee are asked to consider feasibility of those options.
- The 2024/25 audit is currently ongoing. ↩
