About us

Our History

The Selby Trust was set up as a charity in 1992 by local people who recognised the need for a multi-purpose centre led by the community and third sector organisations. It was supported by the late Bernie Grant MP, who had a vision for a place in the community that people could afford and call their own. Selby registered as charity in May 1994 and Company Limited by guarantee in May 1993.

Since 1992, it has operated from the Selby Centre in Tottenham, in former school premises, which the Trust manages as a multi-purpose community and social enterprise centre, with a 25 year lease from LB Haringey. The site is 150,000 square feet, with offices, meeting rooms, training facilities, sports and events halls and a large car park.

Selby Centre, which is located in an area of high deprivation, brings together a rich mix of individuals and organisations, primarily from BME, refugee and other historically excluded communities in Tottenham, Haringey, North London and beyond.

Almost 80% of Selby Trust funding is self-generated.

What the Selby Trust does

The Selby Trust has 5 inter-related functions:

1. Community Facilities Management - Maintaining the centre as a community facility which reaches over 100 enterprises and attracts 1500 individuals on a regular basis
2. Community Development Centre – Bringing grass roots partnerships and consortia together in a rich mix of cutting edge services that challenge poverty, injustice and inequality
3. Community Economic Development – Achieving sustainability through social enterprise that promote growth in the local economy whilst serving social and environmental functions
4. Community Safety – Encourage safer neighbourhoods with less violence, anti-social behaviour and better life chances for young people, women, offenders and ex-offenders
5. Community Environmental Development – Greening the Selby Centre by creating a diverse, low carbon community as a model of good practice

Selby Trust philosophy

• To increase the capacity and sustainability of historically excluded groups in the diverse communities served
• To promote and support, directly and through networking, a range of opportunities to enable all communities to achieve economic, social and cultural growth
• To be a key player in community and economic development through partnership working at all levels – locally, London-wide, nationally and internationally.