As new families moved into Kew, many felt a growing gap in community spirit. Elderly residents needed support, and younger ones longed for connection. The group decided to form a non-political, non-denominational organisation where neighbours could look out for each other — the simple belief that everyone should feel part of a caring community.

Tina Wood first imagined each road having its own “helper” — someone neighbours could call in times of need. The idea quickly grew. By the end of 1976, there were ten helpers, and soon enough, Kew and North Sheen came under the umbrella of one name: Kew Neighbourhood Association.

Reverend Roger Lamont of the Barn Church offered KNA a meeting place and chaired early gatherings. On 3rd October 1976, the Association held its inaugural meeting there. By December the following year, around fifty locals gathered for KNA’s very first birthday party — a testament to how quickly neighbourly goodwill had spread.

In the early years, KNA hosted lively discussions — from single-parent family support to public health talks. By 1978, Ros Buckland Wright became the Association’s first true co-ordinator, working from home while raising two children. Her efforts helped KNA grow from a handful of helpers to a trusted community lifeline.