Building Strong Communities
Stage: Programme designBy 2025 all Londoners will have access to a community hub ensuring they can volunteer, get support and build strong networks.
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1080 Londoners have responded
From 28 June until 23 July, the team behind the recovery mission on ‘Building Strong Communities’ are hosting the London Festival of Ideas. With these events they are keen to explore what community hubs look like to Londoners – this might be a physical space, or support and information that helps people to participate in community activities.
What is a community hub and what does it mean to you?
Can you please tell us how, when and where your communities:
- Come together and have a sense of belonging
- Network and participate in community life
- Access support and services
- Learn and develop ideas
Share your views in the discussion below and help us better understand how Londoners view community hubs so that we can realise them together. These questions are also being discussed at the many Festival of Ideas events – why not have a look for activities near you.
This discussion closed on 23 July 2021.
The discussion ran from 24 June 2021 - 24 August 2021
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Log into your accountalphasilk
Community Member 3 years agoIn the Jewish community we have hubs we call them synagogues - the word in Hebrew for a synagogue is a Beit Knesset - a place of meeting, a place of gathering. Whilst a synagogue can also be known as a place of learning (Beit Midrash), a...
Show full commentIn the Jewish community we have hubs we call them synagogues - the word in Hebrew for a synagogue is a Beit Knesset - a place of meeting, a place of gathering. Whilst a synagogue can also be known as a place of learning (Beit Midrash), a place of prayer (Beit Tfillah), a place of healing the name chosen is for meeting and gathering. Religious groups have a lot to offer to the thinking of this mission. How do we welcome each other, look out for each other, support each other?
Show less of commentclassylady77
Community Member 3 years agoIn Croydon town area we’ve got no community hubs, no youth clubs. I’d love to take my kids to after school events but as don’t drive there’s nothing that doesn’t cost a fortune…
RachelP
Community Member 3 years agoI am a member of a Church of England hub which I think is a community hub. It is a beautiful building and the church community are very welcoming. We have been developing mental health champions with Merton Citizens so that people have an...
Show full commentI am a member of a Church of England hub which I think is a community hub. It is a beautiful building and the church community are very welcoming. We have been developing mental health champions with Merton Citizens so that people have an opportunity to talk to someone about their mental health worries. We are discussing extending it across 12 London Boroughs in South London as part of a project with the mental health NHS Trusts (South London Listens). I feel that it is important that people feel that they are part of a community that cares and that people look after each other.
Show less of commentmarkcummings1
Community Member 3 years agoThe local community Hub we have near us in Tottenham is Living Under One Sun, Cafe, centre for gardening and other community activities. However, there is never enough money. They do not own the building and have to lease from council who...
Show full commentThe local community Hub we have near us in Tottenham is Living Under One Sun, Cafe, centre for gardening and other community activities. However, there is never enough money. They do not own the building and have to lease from council who have often dragged their feet as they do not want them to get in the way of massive gentrification happening in our area and are short of resources
We need to fund community hubs. Not just re-purpose libraries although that is good. They need to based on a democratic basis, owned by the community, with clear mission and purposes, have people who engage with them on a voluntary basis but also paid staff to keep things developing, changing and available despite austerity, COVID19 or other issues like crime. They could become centres for alternative development and local planning with support from units funded by GLC so they can take on planning issues locally.
They need to have council support and also to have multi-year funding with ownership vested in the community like community pubs otherwise they will just be closed when a new council wants the building, land or money for other purposes. This is what has happened with much voluntary advice and support provision.
Finally, they need also to be supported by independent funds ( managed by a trust at GLC level with income from CIL or fundraising and be able to mobilise people against plans that run counter to their community aspirations and needs to be a thorn in the side of those who are working against the common good.
Show less of commentbillieh
Community Member 3 years agoto have an easily accessible space "community hall" as a local hub for the community
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 3 years agoSimilar idea about the previous one but instead of Chess tables it could be Tennis tables. Volunteers could provide initial free lessons teaching how to play Tennis table and then we could organize and run competitions between all the...
Show full commentSimilar idea about the previous one but instead of Chess tables it could be Tennis tables. Volunteers could provide initial free lessons teaching how to play Tennis table and then we could organize and run competitions between all the people interested in practising this exciting sport. It could be a great way to socialising and building like-minded community.
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 3 years agoMy vision is a relax place with Chess tables with volunteers teaching how to play Chess and doing friendly competitions running during the weekends.
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 3 years agoI think there are existing facilities constitute hubs so libraries could fit the bill. Many are volunteer led now and this can give an dimension the notion of a 'hub' - which is pretty flexible. Many have meeting rooms tho some ask for a...
Show full commentI think there are existing facilities constitute hubs so libraries could fit the bill. Many are volunteer led now and this can give an dimension the notion of a 'hub' - which is pretty flexible. Many have meeting rooms tho some ask for a fee. They are neutral spaces and mostly non threatening.
Show less of commentSeton During
Community Member 3 years agoIn order to optimise crimes reductions challenges in London; we need to firstly accept that Parliament and Governments - central and local - continue to be intellectually bankrupt about evolving credible solutions strategies, policies, and...
Show full commentIn order to optimise crimes reductions challenges in London; we need to firstly accept that Parliament and Governments - central and local - continue to be intellectually bankrupt about evolving credible solutions strategies, policies, and practices.
Show less of commentParliament must support my continuing input - for over 12 years now - about legislating for all landlords to install ANPR CCTV on all their external walls so that we can track and trace where the miscreants have escaped to ith where they had come from.
MadMark
Community Member 3 years agoNot convinced a sense of community exists in much of suburbia. You may occasionally engage with near neighbours but wouldn't mix socially instead sticking to friends and family.
aolulode
Community Member 3 years agoMy local library acts as a community hub - it is a physical public space, people come together and they can also access information and support, learn things, use technology, meet others, see a friendly face and much much more.
SPEAKMYTRUTH
Community Member 3 years agoCommunity Hubs are similar to the community centres that they used to have back when I was a child, the government closed them down, hence children are now on the streets with nothing to keep them proactive.
I think it is important to...
Show full commentCommunity Hubs are similar to the community centres that they used to have back when I was a child, the government closed them down, hence children are now on the streets with nothing to keep them proactive.
I think it is important to have community hubs for all ages to come together to feel less isolated and becoming more involved in learning and all sorts of activities it helps them feel alive and have purpose.
Show less of commentgoya12
Community Member 3 years agoCommunity Hubs as envisaged here are basically for gentrified communities and how to make life even better for them and their families. They don't have anything to say about unemployment, knife crime, addiction, money laundering or...
Show full commentCommunity Hubs as envisaged here are basically for gentrified communities and how to make life even better for them and their families. They don't have anything to say about unemployment, knife crime, addiction, money laundering or scamming. All of these phenomena destroy a real sense of community in London and other big cities. Living near parks makes pollution bearable for the well-to-do but not for the majority. Even this is temporary.
Show less of commentHUNTCJ
Community Member 3 years agoCommunity Hubs need to be things that make use of and develop exisiting buildings, organisations, facilities and connections. I'd see any new Community Hub as something that first helped to connect the already great work going on, helped...
Show full commentCommunity Hubs need to be things that make use of and develop exisiting buildings, organisations, facilities and connections. I'd see any new Community Hub as something that first helped to connect the already great work going on, helped people to share best practice and map exisiting provision. Secondly, they should establish the gaps and work to fill them.
For example. We could use Schools in the evening to host community events (for free). We could connecting different groups trying to deliver similar services together to share best practice (i.e. funding for youth group leaders to meet up or for greenspace organistations to discuss ways to work effectively etc.).
It would be great to see some sort of regular event where local community groups could come together and demonstrate what they're doing and encourage others to get involved.
Show less of commentLouise Rogers
Community Member 3 years agoThe difficulty is always how to include those who are excluded and most in need. Maybe have a community hub role which local people are trained to undertake, these people could be from local organisations. Also encourage people to connect...
Show full commentThe difficulty is always how to include those who are excluded and most in need. Maybe have a community hub role which local people are trained to undertake, these people could be from local organisations. Also encourage people to connect with their neighbours (our street set up a Whats App group early in the pandemic). I think locally have a Virtual Hub with real spokes which are in existing venues e.g. libraries, cafes, worship spaces, voluntary and community groups - don't set up new venues. Examine your models first - and have a look at what already exists in neighbourhoods - often there's quite a lot - some may just need a little bit of extra funding. And good luck!
Show less of commentVK
Community Member 3 years agoI agree let's look at what exists already My area in London uses our 'next door neighbour' app a lot!!!
keela319
Community Member 3 years agoForget Social Media: That is the root problem of UK society (sponsored by the Tories). By far too much emphasis on the "digital by default" nonsense.
afhassan
Community Member 3 years agoCommunity Hubs is an one of the following London Festival of Ideas, may be assistance on our requested all city & county can getting to gathering all ethnic minority to nations of the rights shall be share our views on the Architecture in...
Show full commentCommunity Hubs is an one of the following London Festival of Ideas, may be assistance on our requested all city & county can getting to gathering all ethnic minority to nations of the rights shall be share our views on the Architecture in the Village. Real London is back to reduced Homeless risk only. Yes to the International Laws for Dutch Capital ordinal.
Show less of commentJulieR
Community Member 3 years agoIt is a place of information to promote your town. It will share what is happening in the town and all the community groups, promote businesses, help to set up community events. Identify projects to improve the town. Just a place that...
Show full commentIt is a place of information to promote your town. It will share what is happening in the town and all the community groups, promote businesses, help to set up community events. Identify projects to improve the town. Just a place that shows it genuinely cares for your town.
It will encourage and promote community from different people and groups rather than actually controlling all this activity.
Show less of commentAlan W
Community Member 3 years agoThe phrase ‘community hub’ has been hijacked by Councillors, politicians and consultants and bastardised to mean shoe-horning cut services inc austerity ravaged libraries together under one roof often resulting in poorer services and less...
Show full commentThe phrase ‘community hub’ has been hijacked by Councillors, politicians and consultants and bastardised to mean shoe-horning cut services inc austerity ravaged libraries together under one roof often resulting in poorer services and less staff. It’s a way of masking & hiding cuts.
Show less of commentWe need investment in civic spaces/services already valued by communities like public libraries run by paid/trained staff not volunteers, community centres, children’s centres, parks etc.
Our public spaces are also being privatised and this needs to stop, something also has to be done about gentrification as many parts of London are being taken over by £6 a pint pubs and expensive sourdough & avocado eateries which exclude those on lower incomes or no income at all.
lauramolonlabe
Community Member 3 years agoI agree, but what to do about it as the Councillors,politicians and consultants have the power, and the budget- I'm not so sure. Full funding for libraries and community centres would do it- but that isn't going to happen. I think the way...
Show full commentI agree, but what to do about it as the Councillors,politicians and consultants have the power, and the budget- I'm not so sure. Full funding for libraries and community centres would do it- but that isn't going to happen. I think the way forward is probably to put the budget and the responsibility for community centres to the community and the budget could fund staff and volunteers could also have a role. Some would fail, but some would succeed and that's better than nothing- which is what we have in Newham currently.
Show less of commentkeela319
Community Member 3 years ago"ur public spaces are also being privatised and this needs to stop..." - Indeed, but Khan has no appetite for stopping any development, exactly as his predecessor, Johnson (who sadly controls English planning now). There is no hope unless...
Londoner1
Community Member 3 years agoYou can't "create a community" with events of this nature. I think this is a very expensive approach that will have little long-term results.
Mike Solomons
Community Member 3 years ago.
Please stop wasting our time and money.
There are very few in London with tons of cash to spare, so why are you forcing us to pay our money for your self aggrandisment project?
Stop wasting money on this crazy project and let us...
Show full comment.
Please stop wasting our time and money.
There are very few in London with tons of cash to spare, so why are you forcing us to pay our money for your self aggrandisment project?
Stop wasting money on this crazy project and let us keep the cash in our own pockets.
Instead, work towards cutting our tax burden by reducing Council Tax as well as Business rates, (which we all pay when we visit shops).
.
Show less of commentlauramolonlabe
Community Member 3 years agoDefunding community centres and libraries won't reduce your council tax or the business rate- it's a tiny part of the budget.
You need different ideas for social care (a very large part of the budget) and less funding for Police and fire...
Show full commentDefunding community centres and libraries won't reduce your council tax or the business rate- it's a tiny part of the budget.
You need different ideas for social care (a very large part of the budget) and less funding for Police and fire brigades (also a big chunk), to make even a modest impact on council tax and business rates.
Show less of comment