Sharing Spaces
Helping community groups share information and practical tips about living in a low-cost, low-impact way.
A London-wide project, Sharing Spaces, is enabling eight community organisations in London to set up their own centres to provide community learning on climate action and build community connections at underused spaces such as libraries, cinemas, churches and tenants and residents halls.
Ashden has joined forces with community organisation Camden Think & Do to replicate their ‘Sharing Space’ venues which help community groups share information and practical tips about living in a low-cost, low-impact way. The community venues will help residents share skills, knowledge and build community relationships and resilience to climate impacts.
The original Think & Do pop up was established in Somers Town, Camden, North London, and over just a two-week period 1.100 local people were engaged and participated in refuse, resue and recycling initatives including clothes swaps and sharing meals cooked from surplus food; bike mending and much more.
Think & Do Camden began supporting local Camden residents to establish ‘Sharing Spaces’- turning unused spaces on local estates into community hubs for climate action.
More Sharing Spaces coming…
Sharing Spaces launched in April 2024, with more than a thousand residents attending Sharing Spaces in Ealing, Barnet and Bromley. More Sharing Spaces are now taking place in White City, Camden and Croydon and a further two in Islington and Camden launching in September.
Each Sharing Space runs for approximately three months with some happening over the summer to provide fun and useful activities for families. Weekly workshops provide space for residents to share their knowledge and skills with others. Many spaces are working hand in hand with their local authority to co-create climate action in their community.
This space is invaluable. There is an incredible generosity of spirit here. I came in not knowing anything about sewing but everyone else was kind enough to show me how to use the machines, offer advice on how to get started. Now that I’ve been here and seen the benefits of it, I would be very sad to see it disappear.”
An elderly resident in Bromley, attending the Greener & Cleaner Sharing Space in The Glades Shopping Centre.
I think it’s very important for people to have contact with nature, it can bring a sense of connection to our wider environment, a sense of well-being and it’s a really empowering skill to know how to grow.”
A resident at the Finchley Sharing Space, which takes place at Barnet’s Church End Library
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