People Powered Places Our Stories

Upskilling older people with digital and tech skills: People Need People 

In Stratford, Frames of Mind Studio has been making a significant impact through their ‘People Need People’ project. Funded by Newham Council’s People Powered Places, this initiative has enhanced the digital skills of older residents, helping them stay connected with their loved ones.  

Frames of Mind had been delivering similar projects in Newham for the past couple of years. They worked with their residents to co-create their project and worked together to gain enough votes to receive funding.  

The project has been a resounding success, with participants learning to use various apps on their smartphones at Stratford Library and staying in touch through a dedicated WhatsApp group. Beyond Stratford Library, the group have gone on lots of day trips, using navigation apps on their phone and taking photos of their trip.  

People Need People visiting Tower of London

One of the most significant outcomes has been the increased sense of connection among participants. Many now feel closer to their families and friends, thanks to their ability to use communication apps. As one resident shared, “learning how to use my mobile goes a long way. Friends and family appreciate it the most as I can keep in touch with them”.   

Connections made through the Thursday groups and the Whatsapp group has been a supportive place where residents feel more connected to each other and their community. As one resident said, “it keeps you feel connected with society, because otherwise we're stuck at home on our own and we feel like aliens. When you come here, you feel like you're part of the human race again.”  

To celebrate the project’s success, Frames of Mind Studio organised a Christmas Party, led by Latin Musician Ramiro Maldonado who was part of a previous project run by Frames of Mind. This festive event was filled with laughter, music, and delicious food, highlighting the strong bonds formed during the project.  

People Need People Latino Christmas Party with Ramiro

Bo Chapman & Zoe Flynn who run Frames of Mind shared, “as a local organisation it has been incredibly rewarding to be able to deliver People Need People; a project which was not only needed, but voted for, by the communities in, which we live and work. Our evaluation shows that People Need People Digital inclusion and Friendship hub has had a profoundly lasting positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the group. 

We are determined to secure longer term funding to build on the success of People Need People and expand our innovative peer to peer teaching initiative, ‘Digilante’s to further reduce social and digital exclusion in Newham.” 

Jyoti Singh, Community Neighbourhood Area Manager for Stratford & West Ham and Forest Gate & Maryland added, “the ‘People Need People’ project is an invaluable initiative, equipping older residents with essential digital and tech skills. As a local organization, ‘Frames of Mind’ has a deep understanding of the Newham community, its diversity and the challenges it faces. The local insight enables Project Leads Bo Chapman & Zoe Flynn to provide tailored support and meaningful initiatives that truly address the needs of the people they work with.” 

Keep updated with Frames of Mind work on their website by clicking here.

People Need People editing their photos at Straford Library

Photography by Frames of Mind

Healthy cooking with recipes from around the world: Cooking for Health  

Daphne Green has been volunteering in Newham for years, running the Unique Stars Dominoes Group at Plaistow Library and has got to know the community well. When Newham Council’s People Powered Places opened for applications, Daphne applied to set up ‘Cooking for Health’. She saw a need to help people cook in healthier ways and decided to create cooking workshops with recipes from around the world.  

 Project Lead Daphne chopping vegetables to make a risotto

Working with Nutrition Kitchen, they teach older people in the community healthier ways to cook their favourite foods as well as trying new dishes. Mel from Nutrition Kitchen explained the cooking sessions they ran for Caribbean women ‘They’ve been cooking in a certain way for a very long time. It was amazing to demonstrate using all their familiar ingredients and dishes, but make them healthier and make sure the taste was still there. They had their yam, banana and saltfish. The ladies loved to have a cooking class tailored to what they like to eat!’. 

Jacintha has been coming to the cooking classes for a few weeks. She said ‘It’s so exciting learning new things, it gives me a purpose to get out and meet new people. I’m cooking healthier at home too. I like that they break down the recipes step-by-step and we can take what we’ve cooked home with us’. 

 Jacintha stirring her risotto

With People Powered Places funding coming to an end, Daphne has been thinking about how to celebrate the success of her project ‘I’ve met some very good people. I’d like to have a party where everyone brings a dish they’ve learnt to cook and give out certificates’.  

Syed Haque, Newham Council’s Community Neighbourhood Manager for Plaistow and Green Street said ‘This People Powered Places project celebrates the rich diversity of our residents in Plaistow. It aims to create a space for communities to come together to learn, laugh, and share food and recipes while making new friends. The rising cost of living has profoundly affected many people, so learning how to make healthier choices is invaluable’ 

Nutrition Kitchen's Mel sharing ingredients

Cooking classes take place on Wednesdays 1.00 - 3.00pm at Plaistow Community Centre, 63 Queen's Road West, London E13 0PE. 

Click here to find out more information

Supporting communities with the cost-of-living crisis: E6 Sisters Community Pantry

Funmy Adeojo has always been community orientated. During lockdown, she connected with her neighbours, providing support and friendship. Her role in the community grew, and she was instrumental in organising a Queen’s Jubilee Street party and Kings Coronation party in East Ham, and documenting it all on YouTube. Funmy remembers “I put a leaflet outside my door about the Queen’s Jubilee Street party and I started getting messages from my neighbours offering to help. It's like the community have been waiting for such a thing to happen. They loved it, it's just like giving confidence back to the community." 

Photos of volunteers and children at E6 Sisters Pantry

When Funmy saw the opportunity to apply for funding through Newham Council’s People Powered Places, she knew what would benefit her community. With the deep impact of the cost-of-living crisis, she decided to set up E6 Sisters Community Pantry through her organisations E6 Sisters. Residents pay £10 to subscribe for a year, and £10 each time they come, where they can take 15 items of branded food products and up to five items of clothing. The Pantry has a fun atmosphere, offering a family friendly social space, where everyone is offered a cup of tea, cooked food and a chance to meet others. If residents are unable to meet the subscription fees, Newham-based business ARQ-Homes can cover the costs. 

Queenet, who came during half term with her children shared how supportive the Pantry is. “The cost-of-living is so high. It helps me save money for other things knowing I’m coming here to get food and clothes, especially when my children grow so fast. It’s really nice, I appreciate it so much.” 

Funmy’s neighbour Nicola heard about the Pantry and decided to get involved. She explained “I've been in a situation where I needed to use a food bank. Having that experience myself, it was quite daunting, and others might be feeling the same way. This way I can talk to them and reassure that no one is here to judge you.” 

Volunteers sorting through clothes donations

News of the benefits of E6 Sisters Community Pantry has spread, and partners across the borough are supporting the project. Central Park Primary school have built a storage shelves for the group, ASDA have donated food to the pantry, West Ham United Irons Supporters have donated clothes, London Design and Engineering UTC have donated laptops and The Good Hotel in the Royal Docks donated kettles and 100 mattresses which Funmy delivered to families in need.  

Funmy’s passion doesn’t stop. Since receiving funding, she has officially set up E6 Sisters as a Community Interest Company to ensure she can attract funding moving forward. 

Zakir Adam, Community Neighbourhood Manager for East Ham & Manor Park said ‘E6 Sisters Community Pantry is unique project, from an idea on paper to actual delivery, it’s a brilliant project that works to address cost of living so many families in East Ham face. The project has shown the need food pantry. Funmy has been amazing, securing spaces to hold pantry and partnering with organisations providing food, clothing and white goods.’  

Children helping at E6 Sisters Community Pantry

If you would like to find out more about E6 Sisters Community Pantry, you can visit them on Fridays at Central Park Primary School Hub, Central Park Road E6 3WD between 3.00 - 6.00pm term time and 10.00 - 1.00pm during the school holidays. Or visit St Paul’s Church Burges Road E6 2EU on Thursdays 10.00 - 1.00pm. You can follow them on Facebook, call 07852315020, email E6Sisters@gmail.com or visit their website here.

Photography by Patrisha Galang

Empowering Youth this Black History Month

Over the years of barbering in Canning Town, King Ogunremi engaged in conversations with his young clients about what was going on in their lives. Through these discussions, he noticed a troubling pattern: there were limited activities for young people to do locally, leading to violence and a lack of opportunities to make money and learn practical skills. Recognising these issues, King saw something he could give to his community – providing young people with barbering skills. 

Young People sharing their barbering skills

In 2022, he applied for £5,000 in funding from People Powered Places, then called Community Assemblies, to start Barber Connect, which engaged 150 local residents. When People Powered Places relaunched in 2023, he decided it was time to grow the project, now called Barb N Engage. As part of this new initiative, he trained eight young people in barbering skills and provided 93 free haircuts over the summer holidays. Additionally, he teamed up with Haircycle, a hair recycling project to educate young people about alternative uses for hair and support other local businesses.  

King doesn’t intend to stop here – he has now registered as a Community Interest Company to expand the project to gain sponsorship and one day open a training academy. King has worked with other local councils to support them in delivering similar barbering projects to mentor and upskill young people.  

Kareem, a young person who has learnt a lot through the project said, “They gave me something to do during my free time, rather than staying at home doing nothing and being lazy. I cut a lot of my friends' hair, which made them feel good as well.” 

IK, another young person who’s benefited from the project said, “It was pretty good because I learnt a lot about how hair can be used for many things like fertilizing plants and stuff. I found it really, really, really impressive.” 

King with young people he has trained through Barb N Engage

Taibat, a mum of a young person who regularly attends the barbering sessions said, “Newham is a standout place for the youth. Young people are looking forward to being empowered through training. It's an opportunity to go out, to learn new things, new skills like do-it-yourself that will really help them, especially when they go to university.” 

King shared “It's been a wonderful programme for me personally seeing these young people wanting to learn a skill, trying to be somewhere safe with somebody they believe and trust in... We've delivered the training and Barb N Engage is really essential in the community.” 

Lisa Taylor, Community Neighbourhood Manager for Beckton & Royal Docks and Custom House & Canning Town shared “The first time I heard King speak about his project idea at an early PPP event, I was so excited to hear such original ideas and passion. Seeing the project develop into reality and hearing such positive outcomes and stories makes me very proud to see potential realised.”

If you would like to get involved in Barb N Engage, please visit their website www.thebarberconnectproject.co.uk or contact King on king@thebarberconnectproject.co.uk or call 07429393803

Photography by Patrisha Galang

Empowering Mental Health : The Hear Me Out Project

Back in 2020, Anab was on her morning commute to Canary Wharf when she encountered a woman in distress. The woman, recognising Anab as Somali, sought her help. After accompanying the woman to the hospital and witnessing the inadequate support she received, Anab realised the glaring gap in mental health services for the Somali community.

Determined to address this issue, Anab fearlessly took on the challenge. Amidst lockdown, she teamed up with other volunteers to establish HealTogether CIC. Their organisation focuses on providing mental health support to Somali women, a demographic whose needs are often overlooked despite enduring traumatic experiences such as war, displacement, refugee camp living, resettlement in new countries, and discrimination.

Ayan dancing a traditional Somali dance

Out of a desire expressed by older women in the community for a safe space where younger women could be heard and supported, Anab and Ayan, Director of Youth Services at HealTogether CIC started Hear Me Out. Through the People Powered Places ‘Big Vote’ event, the project secured funding of £19,600, enabling its realisation.

The monthly sessions of Hear Me Out encompass various techniques for mental health support, including activities such as creating vision boards, stress management, and sessions to connect with Somali culture, such as traditional dance performances led by Canab Cuud and talks from influential figures like Aamna Mohdin, author of "Scattered," who’s book talks about her experiences of relocating from Somalia to the UK.

Everyone learning traditional Somali dancing

Abeer's journey with Hear Me Out began in January 2024 volunteering with HealTogether CIC, and the impact on her life has been profound. Abeer said, “I've grown a lot as a person. I was socially isolated after COVID, and I felt a real sense of shared experience and understanding here. They supported me and put me through a confidence coaching course. I've recently secured employment.”

Feeling socially isolated due to the pandemic, she was uncertain about her next steps after completing her studies in Politics. Yet, after getting involved with HealTogether CIC, Abeer was empowered to take a confidence-building course, develop her CV, and ultimately secure a role at a Somali community centre in August 2024.

When asked about the impact she aims to make through Hear Me Out, Anab emphasised, “They are safe, they are heard, and they are empowered.”

Singers from Canab Cuud providing entertainment

Merdeen Wright-Simpson, Community Neighbourhood Senior Officer for Custom House & Canning Town said, "The Hear Me Out Project for Custom House & Canning Town neighbourhood is part of the wider support HealTogether CIC provides mainly within the Somali community. Addressing the neighbourhood’s theme of health & well-being, it has impacted participants in many ways. The project has created a safe space for participants to be able to express themselves, be listened to and empowered with language and cultural barriers at bay."

Hear Me Out takes place on the last Saturday of the month, 1 – 5pm at Canning Town Library, 18, Rathbone Market E16 1EH. To find out more, please visit their website. 

Photography by Sylvie Belbouab

The Evolution of The UP Garden: Thriving Community Hub 

Regular volunteers Vik and Roy work on the book exchange 

The UP Garden, based in Eric Close, Forest Gate, was transformed from a disused laundry yard into a vibrant and inclusive community space by and for local residents. It is open every day, and boasts a covered hang-out space, imaginative play features, plenty of seating, and a wide range of ornamental and edible plants, with a waitlist for its micro-allotments. Within a year of opening, The UP Garden became the first ever winner of the RHS’s and the BBC's Growing Together Award for community gardening, featuring in two episodes of The One Show. 

The UP Garden has become a thriving community hub, creating a welcoming space for relaxing, meet-ups and picnics, for teenagers to hang out and do homework, for children to play, all surrounded by urban nature. To develop The UP Garden further, they were awarded People Powered Places funding of £4,000 to bring literature, arts and science to the local community in the form of a book exchange, an outdoor piano, and a nature trail.  

One of four leads on this project, Suzanne Hu, explained that the ideas came from various places such as her realisation that: “Pianos are a gateway to learning other instruments as the scale is already set out for you visually. However, they aren’t accessible to everyone, being large, heavy and expensive. The funding will pay for a piano, to introduce more people to the joy of making music regardless of their circumstances, as well as building a weatherproof cabinet for it.”  

The nature trail came from seeing how popular the temporary versions were at The UP Garden’s family events. The community co-designed the trail by voting to choose the wildlife plaques as well as the types of information provided when scanning each plaque’s QR code. 

Project Lead Catherine works on the book exchange - Photo provided by The UP Garden

The donor of the phone box had hoped it would become a ‘little library’. It remained in a dilapidated state at The UP Garden’s entrance since opening nearly two years ago. Fellow project lead, Catherine McGill, was pleased that it could finally be transformed: “It has taken several months to remove all the old paint, rust and tiny glass shards as it’s a very small space to work in and the labour is hard-going. The funding has paid for all of the renovation materials and power tools, without which it would have taken far longer.” 

The UP Garden hosts a range of events from quarterly community gatherings to weekly community gardening sessions. Roy is a local resident, who dropped into a session a year ago and has come almost every week since, helping to keep the yard safe and looking smart including renovating the phone box. He enjoys volunteering, and encourages others to get involved, “I like meeting people. I've got to know a few of the local people now coming in here. I do a bit of gardening on my own so I'm actually learning things from other people and bringing it to my own garden. Also it's physical, so it's healthy.”  

Regular volunteers Yvonne and Deborah at the weekly drop-in community gardening session 

Jyoti Singh, Community Neighbourhood Manager for Forest Gate said, “The Up Garden flourished into a vibrant hub, bringing residents together and sparking creativity. Thanks to the People Powered Places funded projects, the garden has not only enhanced artistic expression but also provided invaluable educational experiences, making it a true community asset. Local resident Suzanne Hu’s efforts have truly transformed the space into a source of inspiration and learning for everyone involved. The community garden represents a spirit of collaboration and active engagement within the community.” 

Find out more about the project here: (53) Input: Bring literature, art and science to The UP Garden | (newhamco-create.co.uk)

Photography by Sylvie Belbouab

Nature's Classroom: Empowering Children Through Abbey Hub Woodland

Group leaders and children sawing branches

Abbey Hub Woodland is an outdoor oasis in Stratford. With People Powered Places funding of £18,590, Ambition Aspire Achieve (AAA) has turned land that has been derelict for 20 years into Kevin Jenkins OBE Outdoor Learning Centre, an outdoor learning and adventure space for children and young people. 

Over the summer, AAA ran a two-week summer programme for local children to learn new skills, explore nature and make new friends. Brother and sister Kyron and Amaya have spent the past week building bug hotels and learning how to build a fire, as well as going on trips. Amaya said,” have enjoyed learning about making a fire and how to lay the sticks.” 

Forest school leader Candy said, “the Woodland is making a huge difference to children by encouraging outdoor play, with lots of different areas to explore. During Covid, many children didn’t go outside or have access to a garden. The Woodland creates a fun and safe learning space, which is directed by what children want to do, from making boats to bug hotels” 

Child making a bug hotel

Local grandma Tracey brought her grandson Louise to Kevin Jenkins OBE Outdoor Learning Centre to play in nature and have time away from the screens. Having lived in Stratford since she was eight years old, she has been so impressed with the way Ambition Aspire Achieve has transformed the space and teaches children outdoor skills that she has signed up to volunteer to help more local children benefit from the woodland.  

Ciji Varughese, the Community Neighbourhood Senior officer, Stratford and West Ham said, “The Woodland is a small woodland paradise in the middle of a bustling city. AAA have done a commendable job of identifying a derelict fly tipping hotspot and turning it into an idyllic woodland playground for city children who don’t always have access to wide open spaces. The children attending sessions here, benefit from a hands-on holistic approach which will stay with them and nurture their connection to nature in a very meaningful way.”  

This term, outdoor learning and activity sessions are open after school on Tuesdays 4 – 6pm and Saturdays 1-3pm for 5-11 year olds at Kevin Jenkins Outdoor Learning Centre, The Woodland, Riverside Rd, E15 2RG. Contact Candy for more information candy@theaaazone.com 

Children laughing under a canopy

Photography by Sylvie Belbouab

Newham's People Powered Places: Lofty Aim- Empowering the Bengali community in Manor Park

Lofty Aim is a People Powered Places funded project established by Parbin Begum in 2014 to provide a community hub for South Asian women. After relocating to Manor Park in 2005, Parbin noticed the lack of support for South Asian women, particularly from the Bengali community, in the local area and decided to initiate a group at The Shade Centre.

By actively engaging with the community through door-to-door outreach and connecting with Islamic circles, she formed a social group for women. Over one hundred women regularly participate in exercise classes, events, and outings, including day trips to Buckingham Palace and Clacton-on-Sea.

Through the People Powered Places “Big Vote” event in November 2023, Lofty Aim project was one of the 120 projects voted for by residents to receive funding support. This saw the project expand its activities and reach a wider community. Alongside the Women’s Groups, they are now organising youth clubs for boys and girls. Additionally, they have recently launched a Men’s Tea Club for individuals over 50 and a men’s football session with a team of 20 dedicated volunteers. Founder Parbin Begun said, “Traditionally South Asian women are used to primarily taking responsibility for their homes and families. This group gives them time to put themselves first, meet new people and experience new places. It took time to build up this group, from bringing women to the Shade Centre to attending events, and now going on trips outside of London. Some ladies are now ready for a trip to Europe!’

Regular attendee Shahana, who lost her husband to Covid-19 said, “I found out about Lofty Aim through my friends and neighbours. I was too scared to leave the house during Covid and I was very isolated. It is the only place I come to by myself. I enjoy coming out, meeting new people and keeping fit.’

Community Neighbourhood Senior Officer for Manor Park, Kolsuma Miah said, “It’s a great project that involves the South Asian women specifically from the Bangladeshi community that addresses social isolation in our neighbourhood. The project also caters for the South Asian Youth Community by providing opportunities such as indoor games, where they can make new friends outside of school. The feedback from both the youths and the elderly has been very positive and we are happy to see the project grow and hopefully leave a legacy after this cycle finishes.”

Lofty Aims runs various session as follows:

Over 50s Mens’ Tea Club – Fridays 1.45pm to 4pm

Over 50s Ladies fitness class – 4.30pm to 5.30pm

Over 50s Ladies Tea Club – 5.30pm to 6.30pm

Fitness Class and Multi Sports - Fridays from 6pm to 7pm

Youths Under the Shade (YUTS) Youth Clubs

Girl's sessions – Saturdays 2.30pm to 5pm

Boy's sessions – Saturdays 6.30pm to 9pm

To find out more please visit https://newhamco-create.co.uk/en/ideas/lofty-aim-wants-to-provide-health-recreational-trips-for-ladies-and-youth

Newham's People Powered Places: Nurturing a community of creative young minds!

Nabil is a young person with Autism living in Green Street. Growing up, his parents Wahida and Mohammed Shamsur Rahman, along with his tutor Evie searched high and low for creative clubs for Nabil to explore his passion in performing arts and could meet his needs.

When they couldn’t find anything, they decided to set up their own arts and dance club at Green Street Library. Bringing Wahida’s determination to find suitable activities for Nabil, Evie’s experience of working with young people with autism, as well as Mohammed’s arts background, they formed the perfect trio to create a fun and inclusive creative project.

A year into delivering the club, the Community Neighbourhood Team encouraged them to apply for People Powered Places and secured enough votes to gain £20,000 funding. With the funding, they have been able to pay for tutors to deliver sessions and promote activities more widely, reaching 70 people to build a community of creative young people and families.

Nabil making a clay model

What is magical about this club is that it is aimed at both children with Special Educational Needs and children in mainstream education. Wahida and Mohammed Shamsur explained that it is the only opportunity children with SEND and children in mainstream school get to do activities together. At school, they are often separate due to their different needs, whereas at Magic Care Moments Club they can have fun, make friends and understand one another on a deeper level.

Mother and son, Stella and Sean, 11 who has Autism, come to Magic Care Moments Club regularly. Stella shared “Sean gets lots of interaction, everybody's understanding of his needs. He's developed a lot before he starts secondary school, he's got that experience of sharing. The parents get to interact talking about our experiences which is good."

Sean with mum, Stella

Evie added that the club gives gives parents the opportunity to meet, share information and advice and join in for their own creative outlet when they don’t often have the opportunity elsewhere.

Dilawar Hussain, Community Neighbourhood Senior Officer for Green Street shared “This project really captured my imagination and stands out as a unique, creative, fun and engaging initiative. Seeing the participants enjoying the art club at the library puts a smile on the face of all the staff and regular library users. A great project and one of my favourites!”

Details

Dance Club: Mondays, 5.30 - 6.30pm at Green Street Library 337-341 Green Street E13 9AR

Art Club: Tuesdays, 5.30 - 6.30pm at Green Street Library 337-341 Green Street E13 9AR

Click here to find out more

Nabil and Evie

Photography by Sylvie Belbouab