Canvas, Brixton’s newest co-working space, will be open early next year and is looking for tenants. The social enterprise behind Canvas, Connection Crew, describe it as a co-working space with a social purpose.
The Big Issue’s social investment arm, Big Issue Invest, has teamed up with Connection Crew to launch Canvas with a £45,000 investment.
Connection Crew says the idea is to offer creative and social ventures a base to grow from for a fair price, with any profits generated going towards helping people out of homelessness and into training and employment.
Connection Crew, itself a social enterprise, provides manpower to the events industry; and 25% of its workforce is from a homeless background.
Canvas is based on the whole first floor of its HQ and training centre on Lyham Road, by Brixton Prison.
Director of Connection Crew, Charlie Dorman said: “When we moved here in February we thought we’d let our additional space to one commercial tenant. No fuss. Any profit would be used to maintain our training facilities.
“But then we realised we could make a more inspiring contribution to the local economy by accommodating a range of ambitious, creative and socially responsible businesses instead.
“With the support of Big Issue Invest we’re in a position to help build on that.”
Alan Tudhope, Big Issue Invest said: “We are so pleased that we have been able to provide support to Connection Crew in order for them to continue to keep doing the incredible work they do.”
Canvas will open early next year and is currently open for viewings, visit www.canvasbrixton.space for further information.
