Revd Bruce Kenrick, the founder of Notting Hill Housing Trust in the 1960s, has been inducted into the Charity Hall of Fame in honour of his amazing legacy of supporting people in desperate need of a safe and secure home.
Bruce had moved to Notting Hill in the early 1960s, when the only way to find somewhere to live was to rent privately, and homes were often poor quality, tenancies were insecure and rents were exorbitant.
Joined by a group of committed local residents, he formed Notting Hill Housing in 1963 to tackle those problems. Since then, the organisation has grown from those first few homes to more than 68,000 across London and the south-east, housing around 130,000 people.
Just three years later, he also launched the housing justice charity Shelter, to put more pressure on government to improve housing.
Bruce’s legacy lives on through our commitment to providing vital affordable housing to those who could not afford to rent or buy on the open market, and ensuring residents remain safe and comfortable by investing £1bn in our homes over 10 years. Our head office in Islington still bears his name.
He is one of a dozen inspiring figures to make up the Class of 2026 in the Hall of Fame, alongside Lady Phyll, founder of UK Black Pride, Elham Fardad, founder of Migrant Leaders, Martyn Butler OBE, co-founder of the Terrence Higgins Trust and many more.
Ann Kenrick, Bruce’s daughter, said:
“I am so proud of my father. It is a joy that his work has been recognised. I hope this inspires others to tackle the continuing need for secure, affordable housing.”
Patrick Franco, chief executive of Notting Hill Genesis, added:
“Few have had the impact on the capital that Bruce Kenrick has. Through his involvement with Notting Hill Housing or with Shelter, hundreds of thousands of people have been given a safe and comfortable place to live because of his determination to do the best for the people of West London all those years ago. That legacy runs through everything we do and is something we take incredibly seriously. This is a well-deserved honour.”
Jamie Ward-Smith, founder of Charity Hall of Fame, said:
“We created Charity Hall to celebrate people who have made an incredible difference to the lives of others and to preserve their legacy to inspire future generations. This year’s inductees reflect the many ways that change happens – through community action, campaigning, creativity, philanthropy and courage. Each of them has helped to build a fairer and more compassionate society, often in ways that go unrecognised. It is a privilege to honour their achievements and ensure their impact is remembered.”
Community connection
Bruce meeting with a resident.
Early fundraising
Notting Hill Housing Trust raised funds by every means available including charity shops.
Not just clothes
Fundraising also included furniture and household goods,
Surplus with a purpose
Every pound raised by the trust was ploughed directly into improving the lives of our residents.
