Community space project ‘OurSpace’ have just launched a crowdfunding campaign to help with the training of 21 local people from Angell Town, Tulse Hill and Central Brixton. They will be taught how to provide community-business startup courses at those same three locations in London.
With over £238million worth of cuts in the Lambeth area since 2010 and the ever-rapid rise of gentrification communities are feeling a squeeze from both sides. OurSpace hopes to join the Brixton Soup Kitchen as an important local service that people can rely on.
OurSpace has also been funded by the National Lottery for a year however that still does not cover everything. Things such as catering, supplies and a mobile creche are a few of the things that will be bought using the money raised.
When the crowdfund was launched they had already reached 31% of their target of £4525 in a week so support so far is strong. On 8 May 6.30pm at Pop Brixton, OurSpace will be part of a live crowdfunding showcase event.
Georgina Wilson, one of the OurSpace co-Founders, describes their new project as “a unique training programme that allows participants to build skills in facilitation, leadership and business, whilst connecting with their local community centres in order to create change right at the heart of their communities.
“This project is about building capacity. We want to ensure that the community centers have trained people in place that can act as catalysts for change in their neighbourhoods.”
In the run up to the programme the team delivered informative events across the three partner spaces Angell Delight Community Centre, Yellow Qube, and Impact Brixton. During these events participants were asked what an inclusive space for community actually involves.
“It’s quite incredible to see what matters to people, what makes them belong, feel welcome and safe in a community space”, says OurSpace Co-Founder Stephanie Gamauf, “Having open conversations about this provides evidence of how certain spaces are inaccessible or can feel inaccessible to a wide range of people. This is vital in order to break down barriers to inclusion.”
For the future OurSpace has ambitions beyond London, by 2020 they plan to start rolling out their service to other boroughs and cities in the UK with the vison to expand into mainland Europe in 2021
Make sure you pay them a visit and support their campaign before it ends on 22nd May: bit.ly/ourspacecrowd
For more information get in touch with Stephanie at info@ourspaceprojects.com
