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London Project

Understanding local systems, strengthening community capability and supporting constructive participation.

The London Project is a developing community programme concerned with the conditions that affect people’s everyday lives—from housing, water, heating and the local environment to the knowledge, confidence and cooperation people need to improve those conditions.

It starts from the view that physical systems and human capability cannot be separated. Investigating a problem is only the beginning. Lasting improvement may also require residents, specialists and responsible organisations to understand the evidence, communicate effectively and work together to rectify the problems uncovered.

Complete the Community Infrastructure Questionnaire

The programme therefore brings together three connected strands.

Physical infrastructure and the local environment

Homes and neighbourhoods depend upon interconnected systems, including water, drainage, sewerage, heating, ventilation, waste management, transport and the wider environment.

When something goes wrong, residents may experience the consequences without knowing what caused them, which organisation is responsible or what evidence is needed before effective action can be taken.

This strand aims to help communities:

  • record concerns and observations systematically;

  • distinguish an isolated incident from a recurring pattern;

  • identify the systems and organisations involved;

  • obtain appropriate technical knowledge;

  • communicate evidence clearly and constructively; and

  • support practical routes towards investigating and rectifying problems.

The purpose is not to encourage confrontation or make premature accusations. It is to improve the quality of information available to residents, specialists, public bodies and other responsible organisations so that problems can be understood and addressed.

Community capability and participation

Technical evidence alone may not produce change. People may feel discouraged, divided or overwhelmed, particularly when a problem has continued for a long time or responsibility is spread across several organisations.

This strand is intended to strengthen the practical human capabilities needed for sustained community participation. These include listening, cooperation, confidence, respectful communication, conducting meetings, evaluating information and understanding how decisions are made.

Participants will be supported to:

  • recognise what they already know from lived experience;

  • work with people who have different perspectives;

  • separate evidence from assumption;

  • ask clear and useful questions;

  • communicate with institutions and elected representatives;

  • understand where authority and responsibility lie; and

  • take constructive action without losing respect for their own dignity or that of others.

The aim is not to tell communities what to think or what outcome they should seek. It is to help people increase their ability to understand their circumstances, make informed choices and participate effectively.

Science for Citizens

Science for Citizens is the educational strand connecting everyday experience with scientific understanding and careful investigation.

It is being developed as an accessible course for people who may not have a formal scientific background. It begins with familiar experiences and helps participants explore how the human body, homes, infrastructure and the environment interact.

The course is intended to help people:

  • observe carefully and describe what they notice;

  • understand relevant scientific principles;

  • recognise feedback from the body as well as from the surrounding environment;

  • distinguish evidence from coincidence, assumption and misinformation;

  • ask better questions and follow their own lines of enquiry when necessary;

  • understand the limits of what available evidence can establish; and

  • know when specialist advice or testing is required.

Science for Citizens is not intended to turn residents into substitute engineers, doctors or environmental scientists. Its purpose is to make unfamiliar subjects less intimidating and enable more informed communication between communities and specialists.

The Camden pilot

The first development work is taking place in Camden, where residents have raised concerns relating to housing infrastructure, heating, water, drainage, sewerage, health and the local environment.

A community infrastructure questionnaire has been created to help record people’s experiences consistently. The questionnaire is intended to identify recurring concerns and possible patterns that may merit further investigation. It is not an emergency reporting service and does not replace contact with the appropriate authority, landlord, medical professional or emergency service.

Information from the pilot will help test and improve the questionnaire, the community participation process and Science for Citizens before the approach is considered for wider use.

Complete the Community Infrastructure Questionnaire

Working with universities and specialist partners

The London Project is intended to be developed with appropriate academic, technical and community input from an early stage.

Relevant contributions could include:

  • environmental science and public health;

  • engineering, housing and urban infrastructure;

  • education and course design;

  • psychology, human development and community resilience;

  • sociology and community research;

  • public administration, law and civic participation; and

  • monitoring, evaluation and programme design.

We welcome interest from university departments, researchers, technical specialists, community organisations and potential development partners who could help test the programme’s assumptions, strengthen its evidence base and evaluate its practical effects.

Current stage

The London Project is at a formative stage. Its initial framework, community questionnaire and Science for Citizens course outline are being developed and reviewed before a more formal pilot and funding programme are established.

Presenting the work at this stage allows residents, educators, specialists and potential partners to contribute while the programme can still be shaped by experience and informed criticism.

Get involved

If you are a resident, community organisation, university department, specialist or potential supporter interested in the London Project, we would be pleased to hear from you.

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