Meet the community innovators! People and Place: Camden 2026
- 18 hours ago
- 3 min read
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.
These innovators are working across the Borough – from Kentish Town and Kilburn, to Holborn and South Hampstead. They’re reopening long-derelict community centres, rewilding corners of estates, turning unused laundry rooms into shared spaces, reimagining football facilities, creating places to grow food, and opening up new ways to shape environmental decisions together.
Over the course of 2026, the cohort will journey together through: one-to-one mentoring with experienced community innovators and practitioners; peer learning and mutual support; site visits in Camden and nationally; workshops and technical huddles; connections into a wider national movement of community asset developers; and a small grant.
The first peer gathering: becoming a cohort
In early January, the programme kicked off with the community innovators coming together over delicious Syrian food at Footwork’s home in London, sharing their stories and inspirations, and mapping connections between their ideas.
Hopes for the year quickly surfaced: learning from one another, building relationships that would last beyond the year, discovering new possibilities, and planting seeds for the next generation.
“The relationship is the project,” one innovator said. Another described the feeling in the room as "abundance and generosity" — a quality they hope to carry back into their neighbourhoods. Another remarked: “All the people in the room here now: I think that's the most important thing about this programme... It's about the skills and the passion we can share with each other so we can help each other.”
Introducing the People and Place: Camden community innovators...
Lillie, 'Rewild the Ends'
“We’re exploring ways to increase levels of greening and nature connection in sites across Kentish Town… rewilding everyday spaces, through growing food, regenerative crafts, citizen science and habitat creation.”
Leo and Sharon, 'Retrofit Reimagined on New Hilgrove Estate'
“We aim to establish as the resident operators of a new community hub on Hilgrove Estate, transforming former council-owned garages into an active, welcoming community space.”
Alice, Amina and Hannah, 'Citizen’s Assembly on a Greener Neighbourhood'
“We’re convening a local Citizen’s Assembly, putting residents at the heart of environmental decision-making in Swiss Cottage & South Hampstead.”
Katie, 'Bloom along the Railway and Belong'
“Our aim is to open up access to an unused green space along a railway to create a space of connection and safety. This project will also work long-term to strategically build partnerships with stakeholders to fully make use of this community asset.”
Hafid, 'Football for All in Camden'
“We’re reimagining football facilities as accessible, community-led spaces that bring people together across Camden, starting at the Market Road pitches.”
Daniel, Chrissie and Caito, 'Bucklebury and Beyond'
“We’re exploring how to unlock space for creativity and growing on Regent’s Park Estate: creating a resident-designed community garden, securing the future of the Neighbourhood Makeshop, and ensuring regeneration in Euston is community powered.”
Rosana and Alice, '107 Kingsgate Community Centre'
“We're aiding the transition of the Kingsgate community centre into a community-run neighbourhood space in collaboration with One Kilburn.”
Michael, Lynda and Niki, 'Loos for Kilburn'
“We’re working to create a permanent network of open and accessible toilets facilities for Kilburn High Road and Grange Park. With the right partnerships and revenue model, this could deliver lasting public health and social benefits for Kilburn.”
Ben, 'Falcon Laundry Rooms'
“We’re aiming to pilot a resident-led model to bring six unused laundry rooms back into use in our Holborn estate - perhaps drying rooms, meeting spaces or repair shops - and creating a self-funding model that supports long-term upkeep and use."
People and Place: Camden forms a key part Camden Council’s Estates and Neighbourhoods Mission and builds on three years of Footwork’s national People and Place programme.
As part of the Mayor of London's work to support more mission-driven property management across the city's high streets, this programme has received additional part-funding from the Mayor of London and UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
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