Footwork News

Peers chatting and arriving at Tipping Point East

From Materials to Movement: what East London taught us about building together

This autumn’s People and Place field trip took us east to Tipping Point East in Silvertown, Newham – a place exploring what can happen when organisations come together around material reuse, shared space and new models of partnership.

Peers and local Hastings innovators (Black Butterfly, Hastings Rental Health and Afri Collab) on the Hastings promenade / sea front.

From Footholds to Futures: our first People and Place impact story

What does a year of backing community innovators actually look like, once you put it all in one place? From Grimsby to Plymouth, Haggerston to Sheffield, this is the story of what happened when they were backed with a grant, a mentor, and a peer group who understood exactly what they were up against.

team standing outside the bulls inn in Totnes

Roots, Reset and Radical Care: One Year Into Our Civic Partnership

"For me, this time of year is precious. It's a chance to come together as a team, take a well-earned breather, laugh (a lot), reflect and appreciate what we've navigated so far, and recharge for the next chapter of the year. A little rest, a little reflection, a little ridiculousness - the perfect reset." - Naomi

Meet the Mentors & Peer Supporters for People & Place: Camden

"It's inspiring and invigorating to be among people who DO THINGS." Caitlin Strongarm, Old Diorama Arts Centre In January, the 17 People and Place Camden community innovators began working with the Footwork team to be carefully matched with a mentor or peer supporter, who will walk alongside them this year – collaborating to tackle key strategic challenges they’re coming up against in their work. This might include business planning for long-term sustainability, developing f

"You Need Buddies in This Work" What Oxfordshire Taught Us About Stewardship

“You can tell there’s something very special going on by the way that folks lean in as they listen. By the volume of the laughter as we move together. And the profound questions and insights people share, like, ‘how do you avoid burnout?’” - Andy Edwards, Makespace Oxford This year's People and Place Summer Residential was an opportunity to pause, reconnect with one another, and immerse ourselves in the stories of people transforming neighbourhoods in ways both beautifully u

Meet the community innovators! People and Place: Camden 2026

We’re delighted to announce the nine community innovators, with deep roots in the London Borough of Camden, who are coming together for People and Place: Camden – our programme of support, in collaboration with Camden Council. Some are individuals, others are small groups. But all of them have a solution to a local challenge or social injustice, and a bold idea about ‘community asset development’: transforming buildings or land to create lasting change in their neighbourhood

Celebrating the People and Place 2025 peers

This year's People and Place programme came to a joyful close with laughter, solidarity, reflection and celebration, as the cohort of community innovators gathered on Thursday 4th December in Greater Manchester. First stop: lunch in Wigan! We convened at Fur Clemt CIC , which is not only a food bank, but hosts a women-only makerspace, bustling cafe where kids eat free, and outdoor growing space. After wolfing down baked potatoes, we were led by Angela to explore the assets s