Barn Elms Sports Trust (known locally as BEST) is a registered charity (1135370) dedicated to the management of the sporting provision on the Barn Elms Playing Fields, a London Borough of Richmond upon Thames owned site. A brief history can be found below:
2005 – Plans presented for the closure of the athletics track, with the grass fields to be redeveloped to include a large private health & racquets club within a housing complex.
2008 – Barnes Vision formed to protest this loss of grass space, raising £2million in funding within 10 months.
2009 – Richmond Council approved the redevelopment of the sporting facilities on site with works lasting the new few years.
2013 – Barn Elms Sports Trust awarded the management contract of the site, with a Deed of Dedication signed to protect the fields for public use for the next 199 years.
Present Day – The site continues to be imperative to the local community, providing playing fields and facilities for a variety of local schools, sporting teams and community groups
Winner – Best UK Park, 2014
Winner – Getting Active (Team Sports), 2017
Winner – Getting Active (Individual Sports & Informal Activity), 2017
BEST is a non-profit sporting charity, with a Board of Trustees made up from volunteer members of the community.
We pride ourselves in being self sustaining, without the need for memberships or commercial tie ins.
However, we are always looking for new local community partnerships, volunteers that can provide additional advice and support, and help to keep the site clear from litter.
If you are interested in helping, please do feel free to email us!