Spaces+Places
Residents decide how to invest £1 million in their borough
Spaces+Places is an ambitious project bringing residents together to decide how to invest £1 million in Barking and Dagenham.
In 2024, a group of local people were recruited to build their understanding of local needs and learn about community spaces so they can recommend how to use £1million of BD Giving’s endowment. That group, known as Neighbourhood Stewards, mapped what’s already on offer in the borough, analysed local data, and heard from other communities about what’s worked for them.
After months of collaboration and deliberation, they narrowed down from 25 ideas to two:
A Movement Festival
A Youth Creative Hub
The Opportunity
Working in this way ensures the people who live and work in the borough have a say in shaping their environment, creating opportunities and building local pride.
After 18 months of research and collaboration, the Stewards ideas are supported by BD Giving’s board and other local people:
87%
of respondents support the idea of a Movement Festival, with families and children eager to take part and residents highlighting the chance to build pride and community spirit.
70% +
For the Creative Hub, more than 70% of people called for training and studio space, while 77% felt there simply aren’t enough creative opportunities for young people in the borough.
These numbers show demand. They also show what happens when you hand over decision making, resources, and responsibility to residents; they instinctively respond to local needs.
For the first time in a long while I’ve experienced a sense of community.
— Leanne
The story so far
July 28, 2026
Residents’ vision for a community-owned Creative Youth Hub made real
We’re committing £800,000 to a youth-led, community-owned creative hub in Barking. The Blagrave Trust has committed £1 million towards the hub and Good Ancestor Movement has pledged to raise up to £1 million through its community of wealth holders.
Read moreJanuary 29, 2026
A Year of Spaces & Places
As Spaces + Places moves into its next phase in 2026, attention turns to delivery. We will retain meaningful resident leadership as the two projects move into more formal structures and decision-making processes.
Read moreSeptember 29, 2025
Residents & Board Back Neighbourhood Steward Proposals
After months of collaboration and deliberation, Neighbourhood stewards took two proposals to our board – both were approved for further development. These ideas had already been endorsed by local people.
Read moreAugust 27, 2025
Three Investment Ideas for Barking and Dagenham
The Neighbourhood Stewards have narrowed down to three big ideas and they want to know what residents think of their ideas.
Read moreApril 03, 2025
Mapping our Borough
Neighbourhood Stewards marked out where they live and they know about in the borough. It showed us the areas we don’t know, which we’re asking other residents to tell us about.
Read moreFebruary 26, 2025
Statistics VS Feelings
We asked the group to look at the latest data about Barking & Dagenham. Their responses ranged from surprise to frustration, despair to determination.
Read moreJanuary 21, 2025
Thinking Big About Community Spaces
The project began with an induction in December, and the first meeting was on 16 January 2025. The team discussed how to work together and started exploring ideas for investment.
Read moreNovember 2024
Recruitment!Here’s where it starts to get exciting! We have just recruited a group of 20 residents to help us make decisions on how we invest in community spaces for Barking & Dagenham! Watch this space to see what’s next!
October 16, 2024
Showcase!
We held an evening of nibbles and great conversations with residents. Everyone was asked to vote on which themes they thought were most important and, they chose Health & Happiness and Grow Local Enterprise! What theme do you think is most important?
September to October 2024
What We Heard…Through these conversation, we found 6 clear themes. These are:
July to September 2024
ConversationsOver the summer months, we spoke to over 120 residents and sector organisations to understand more about how the community used or didn’t use their spaces.
June 2024
PlanningWe wanted to better understand community spaces in B&D so we looked into local community spaces and examples out of the borough, then we put together a set of questions to take to residents and local organisations.
How to get involved
If you have any questions,
you can contact Bhav Ghedia.
Bhav Ghedia
Programme and Engagement Coordinator