Clearvillage tump53 report by CLEAR VILLAGE

REMAKING TUMP53

REMAKING TUMP53 January 2017 .

Authored by

CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 4 2. ANALYSIS 6 METHODOLOGY SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT SPATIAL CONTEXT REGENERATION CONTEXT 3. VISION 10 STARTING POINTS MAKING HISTORY OPPORTUNITY COMMUNITY + INSPIRATION: THE POWER OF MAKING

4. APPROACH 16 START SMALL, AIM BIG WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANISATIONS FROM OUTSIDE THAMESMEAD 5 CONCLUSIONS 20 + LIST OF PEOPLE INTERVIEWED

+ CONTACT

CLEAR VILLAGE is a London-based charity that helps communities build a better future through creative regeneration. We work together with partners like social landlords, local councils and community groups to bring durable change to communities. We identify community challenges, build on existing community assets and involve community members through participatory design. Since no two communities are the same, no two CLEAR VILLAGE projects are the same either. For the past four years, we have worked closely with Peabodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Investment Team on the Small Works project and have been managing two Small Works spaces on Peabodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vauxhall and Priory Green Estates.

MACHINES ROOM is our sister organisation and our project partner on Remaking Tump53. Founded and led by Thomas Ermacora, who also founded and leads Clear Village, Machines Room is an East London maker space where people and businesses can come and fabricate their ideas on a full range of machines for processes such as CNC, laser and vinyl cutting and 3d printing.

1. INTRODUCTION We believe that Tump53 is a unique place where history, nature and community come together. The tump is not only special and exciting as a physical asset, but also on account of the emotional value it has for the many Thamesmead residents who have spent time there: as children playing outside, as volunteers looking after the space or as visitors enjoying its beauty. The regeneration of Thamesmead offers a tremendous opportunity to make Tump53 more relevant still for the Thamesmead community. This exciting context raises two questions. On the one hand, how can the investments in new housing, infrastructure and facilities benefit the tump? And conversely, how can a renewed use of the tump support Peabodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regeneration goals? It is with these questions in mind that we started our research in Thamesmead in April 2016. Using the Clear Village approach to placemaking, we carried out interviews with local residents and organisations who provided us with a great deal of insight into the challenges and opportunities in the area. On top of that, they offered a range of ideas as to how the tump could be brought back to life.

Based on our research and analysis, we propose that the tump should serve as a place of history, opportunity and community brought together under the theme of making. As we will describe in this report, making as an activity has the capacity to bring people together, engage them in new experiences, and develop their skills. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Remakingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the tump in this manner would give the place an overarching focus and brand, while still allowing for a diverse range of uses and activities. What we suggest in this report is not a readymade blueprint from elsewhere. We believe that Tump53 is too special for an off-the-shelf approach and deserves a tailored solution. What this requires in our opinion is for the stakeholders to embark on a journey together. In some ways this journey has already started with the work that has been done, and we would welcome the opportunity to continue it with Peabody.

2. ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY

Clear Village believes that each place is unique and that place interventions should therefore not be generic, but should be based on a thorough understanding of the local context. Our methodology to understand a place is based on a combination of desktop and field research. Our desktop research is focused on understanding local demographics, social and economic challenges, the strategies and policies in place to address these challenges, and the network of organisations serving local communities. Our field research supports the desktop research with anecdotal material and is conducted through conversations with local residents and organisations. Our desktop research for Tump53 focused on local challenges and policies and also on the regeneration plans for Thamesmead, which is key to understanding the context of the tump in the long term. Our field research consisted of 9 stakeholder interviews with representatives from schools, youth clubs and others. We also had numerous more informal conversations, the results of which are included in our findings as well. We assume that most readers of this report are familiar with most of the basic facts, challenges and assets of Thamesmead. For that reason, we will not give a full overview of our research and will focus on the findings we consider particularly relevant for the redevelopment of the tump.

SOCI0-ECONOMIC CONTEXT A lack of positive life experiences for young people

Thamesmead has a young population, with 28% of residents under 15 compared to the London average of 22%. Central and North Thamesmead have an even younger population. About 1/3 of these children live in poverty, and half of the children live in an area that is among the 20% most deprived areas in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the level of children living with only one parent is higher than average. Our conversations, in particular those with head teachers, gave us valuable insight into the challenges these children face. One particular challenge, often overlooked, is the lack of positive life experiences for children in Thamesmead. These experiences are often ones that children with a less disadvantaged background take for granted, such as going to the theatre, taking the tube, or walking barefoot on sand. Research from the Sutton Trust shows that a lack of these sorts of experience have a negative influence on school attainment at

later age, affecting the life chances of these children. If not addressed, the total costs for the UK economy will be between 56 and 140 billion per year by 2050. Tackling the issue is therefore not only a matter of social justice, but also economically imperative. Schools in the Thamesmead cluster are trying to address the issue through a charter and view Tump53 as a place where some of these life experiences could be offered. A majority of the head teachers we spoke to would like to take part in discussions as to how this could be put into practice.

“EVEN THOUGH OUR SCHOOL IS A STONE’S THROW FROM THE THAMES, SOME CHILDREN HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN THE RIVER,”

Issues with health & well-being

Many Thamesmead residents have problems with their health and well-being. Life expectancy is 4 years below the national average and premature mortality is 60% worse than the national average. 1/3 of Thamesmead residents live in a health deprivation hotspot. Among the various health and well-being issues in Thamesmead, obesity is a major and growing concern. Teachers mentioned that children are seriously affected and pointed out that one of the main causes is the fact that children spend too much time indoors and don’t play outside, which can also lead to a lack of motor skills. One primary school teacher said that he had the feeling that young children are often overlooked in the community programmes on offer.

- A HEAD TEACHER

A lack of community facilities

Thamesmead already has a very diverse community and the recent influx of migrants from Africa will make the community more diversified still. In addition, the completion of the first regeneration phase will see a new influx of (young) professionals from more central places in London. These changes will make it all the more important to build community cohesion in Thamesmead and to have spaces to support this.

The many churches in Thamesmead bring a lot of people together, but church visitors often represent just a part of the community. In addition, many church visitors come from outside Thamesmead. This segregation into separate communities contributes to what many people perceive as a lack of community cohesion in Thamesmead. Although there are community facilities in the area, people feel that there is a lack of inclusive spaces where the community in general can come together, across age and background. Tump53 used to be an important place for community activities. Many of the people we spoke to shared fond memories of visiting or even volunteering at Tump53. The successful establishment of a Friends group in autumn 2016 underlines the connection people still feel to the place. This is something invaluable that needs to be maintained and supported going forward. In order to do so, it is important to establish the tump as a place that is open to everyone and offers a range of community activities.

ecological assets, as described in the Tump53 Management Plan, but also thanks its position on the confluence of Thamesmead’s waterways and within the park structure. This makes Tump53 an ideal location for more educational and recreational use. Thirdly, Tump53 is very centrally located in relation to other facilities serving the area. 5 primary schools, the Hawksmoor Youth Centre, Birchmere Community Centre, the Link and Woolwich Polytechnic are all a short walk away. The Thamesmead shopping centre, with facilities such as a library and leisure centre, is also nearby. Finally, Tump53 also has a strong local connection to the Moorings and the direct surroundings. The park that the Tump is located in could be viewed as the front garden of the Moorings and also has a function in accommodating slow traffic from the housing areas south of Tump53 to the facilities in and around the park and the shopping centre.

REGENERATION CONTEXT

SPATIAL CONTEXT

From a spatial and functional perspective, it is important not to see Tump53 in isolation, but as an essential part of a number of networks that together define Thamesmead’s spatial character. First of all, Tump53 is one of the few places at which the former military infrastructure of Thamesmead is easily recognisable and accessible. Despite Thamesmead’s long history as an artillery testing ground, very few sites remain visible and accessible. With the move of the Royal Artillery from Woolwich, there is a risk that this aspect of Thamesmead’s history will no longer be told locally.

Thanks to the investments that Peabody and other stakeholders have planned for Thamesmead, the future context of Tump53 will be very different from the present. At the same time, strategic investments in the tump during the regeneration programme could contribute to some of the regeneration goals. + New social groups that move to Thamesmead will generate a stronger demand for services and facilities in the area. + Investments in infrastructure such as Crossrail and the DLR extension will make it easier to reach Thamesmead and attract visitors, for instance to attractions such as Crossness Pumping Station.

Secondly, Tump53 is an essential part of Thamesmead’s green / blue infrastructure. Tump53 is valuable not only thanks to its

+ Better connections to other parts of London will make it more attractive for organisations to operate in Thamesmead.

historical military context

the green/blue networks

community facilities

a â&#x20AC;&#x153;front gardenâ&#x20AC;? for the Moorings

+ Investments in public space and community facilities will create a stronger network of social and recreational assets in Thamesmead and create opportunities for complementarity and collaboration. If successfully brought to life, Tump53 could play a major role in contributing to the different regeneration goals that have been set and capitalising on the new opportunities that will be created. Given the tumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential as an asset and given the specific historical, spatial, social and regeneration contexts, we believe that the regeneration of the tump should be approached with the same levels of ambition as the wider regeneration of Thamesmead.

“MAKING IS A STRATEGY FOR EMBRACING CHANGE. NOT JUST BY ADAPTING TO THE FUTURE, BUT ALSO BY HELPING TO COCREATE IT THROUGH COLLABORATION.” - THE MAKER CITY BOOK

3. VISION STARTING POINTS

Based on our analysis, we believe that Tump53 should aim to achieve a range of goals and serve as: + A place where people can learn about the military history of Thamesmead. + A place where Thamesmead residents, and children and young people in particular, can have a range of experiences that contribute to personal development. + A place where Thamesmead residents, and children and young people in particular, can take part in a range of activities that contribute to health and well-being. + A place which brings together different parts of the community and helps to build community cohesion, particularly for residents of the Moorings. + A place which taps into the emotional attachment local people feel for the tump and gives them an active role in shaping its future. These various points can be subsumed under the themes of History, Opportunity and Community. However, to make sure that the tump has a coherent and forwardlooking focus and brand, we also propose that there should be an overarching theme and recommend making for this purpose.

MAKING

The last decade has seen a substantial rise in making on a community level, especially in the US. Technological developments such as 3d printing, CNC cutting and various coding platforms have meant that making is no longer an exclusively â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;industrialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; activity. New types of maker spaces are mushrooming across the world, also in community spaces like libraries, museums and schools. This means that making is not only accessible for those with enhanced technical skills, but has become accessible for everyone. Experience to date shows that making can bring a range of benefits to local communities: + making engages a wide variety of people and is accessible even for very young children + making brings people together, as peer-topeer learning is a central aspect + making doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only develop hard skills, but also soft skills + making enhances entrepreneurship within a community + making can be a way to transform spaces involving local residents, ensuring that residents feel proud of these places and create a community legacy. Making at Tump53 could take many forms and deliver a range of experiences for local residents. Initially, it could focus on a number of projects that aim to involve as many different groups from Thamesmead as possible. Smaller projects could aim to engage children, their schools and their families. Larger projects could aim to engage specific groups, such as young people not in education or employment or people with mental health problems. With projects like these, Tump53 would to a large extent become a newly co-created place that everyone can take pride in.

INSPIRATION: THE POWER OF MAKING

MAKER KIDS TORONTO

TOG STUDIO SCOTLAND

Maker Kids is the first and largest maker space just for young children, aged between 8 and 12. Their ambition is to “empower the leaders of tomorrow with the skills and mindsets to change the world.” Maker Kids’ activities include after school and weekend programmes, camps and birthday parties. They also host a range of in-school programmes. The activities focus on robotics, minecraft and coding. Children learn a range of hard or technical skills including robotics, coding and design. Soft skills include creativity, resilience, leadership, communication and confidence. As they say themselves, “parents have shared amazing stories of how their kids have changed, with positive outcomes in areas like social skills, school performance, and mental health.”

Tog Studio projects involve a wide range of community members in the design and building of larger structures made out of wood. They design in such a way that no previous experience is necessary for those that take part in the building process. As such, anyone interested is given the opportunity to learn basic construction skills. The structures they make are intended to be new icons for communities. So far, projects have included a boat house, a lighthouse and a “sitooterie”.

TINKERING SCHOOL SAN FRANCISCO

ASSEMBLE & JOIN LONDON

Central to their activities are real world problems that are solved through making structures or vehicles from wood and other materials. Children get involved in design, making and testing.

During 9 months, over 600 people participated and produced many smaller and bigger objects, including 90 bird boxes, signage from Waterloo station, allotment beds, street planters, bug hotels, shop and market stall signage, an advent calendar for the whole street, A-frames and street furniture.

Tinkering School promotes a bold approach to making, giving young children from the age of 6 the chance to work with real tools. They offer camps, after-school programmes and one-day workshops.

Their philosophy is based on the view that children are often more capable than they know and can take on responsibilities in a secure environment. Children learn that to move forward, experimenting is necessary and failure is an intricate part of the process.

In 2012-13 London-based making collective Assemble&Join ran 200 workshops from a disused shop space to create objects to upgrade public space in the Waterloo Station area.

The project shows how people without any making experience can participate in maker projects through the use of a CNC-laser cutting machine.

HISTORY

As mentioned before, the military history of Thamesmead is a unique story that deserves to be better known in Thamesmead. It is also of sufficient interest to attract recreational visitors from areas close to Thamesmead and possibly other parts of London. It is a story that is currently somewhat hidden, all the more so because of the recent move of the Firepower Museum from Woolwich. Making the story accessible at Tump53 would add a new dimension to the place and increase its economic and cultural value. There are a number of ways in which the story could be told by making use of maker elements. Sample ideas include:

Maker activity in Tump53, particularly aimed at children and young people, would help to tackle these problems. Activities that could be offered include some of the examples that have been given in our case studies: + School visits + After school and weekend programmes + Maker camps In addition, maker activity would help children and young people to contribute in a very real and tangible way to the redevelopment of the tump. It would allow them to help remake the place using their own hands and skills and thus foster a long-term feeling of involvement and ownership.

+ outdoor exhibitions at the tump + a small library with books about Thamesmead + an audio-visual presentation + a map to explore the military infrastructure of Thamesmead on foot/ by bike

COMMUNITY

To enhance visitor numbers, the following could be considered:

Maker activity can serve as a new way to bring people to the tump. To offer a parallel: maker spaces in libraries have the great benefit of attracting new groups and creating connections between groups that previously didn’t interact much- and the same could be achieved through maker activity in the tump.

+ having a café at Tump53 to make it a more attractive place for visitors + exploring the idea of combined visits with Crossness Pumping Station + improving way-finding to Tump53, in particular from the Thamesmead path and a future DLR station + including Thamesmead in the Belvedere walking route maps

OPPORTUNITY

As described in our analysis, two of the most pressing problems in the area are firstly the lack of life experiences for children and young people and secondly health and wellbeing issues, which in the case of children and young people are partly caused by not engaging in outdoor activity.

Tump53 has been an important asset for the Thamesmead community for a very long time. Many residents spent time at the place in their youth, worked as volunteers or came as visitors to enjoy the peace and quiet.

At the same time, the making theme should not be viewed as a straitjacket and the tump should operate as an inclusive space where everyone can find something to their liking, whether it’s actively participating in activities or simply enjoying the natural qualities of the place. That is why space should be left to accommodate a range of activities, developed by and for local residents.

4. APPROACH START SMALL, AIM BIG

As Thamesmead doesn’t have a maker facility at present, making will still be new to many residents. We therefore recommend starting with smaller, low-threshold projects that engage a wide variety of groups or ‘subcommunities’. These smaller projects would serve as a test-bed for larger projects. The goal of the larger projects would be to add long term ‘infrastructure’ to Tump53 and really transform the place into a destination that can accommodate a host of activities. Examples of smaller projects include: + decorating the fence around Tump53 with the help of primary school children + developing a trail of memories using stories from local residents lasercut in wood + making furniture like benches + engaging school children by making models for the tump (this was proposed by one of the head teachers we spoke with)

Larger projects could include: + design and build a Tump53 outdoor history exhibition + design and build an observation tower from which to view the whole area + design and build a giant sun-dial + design and build a new entrance gate to Tump53

TRANSFORMING TUMP53

The projects provide a way to redevelop Tump53. They are also crucial to establish a maker community in Thamesmead that continues to deliver maker-projects for the wider Thamesmead community.

To release the full potential of Tump53 we think some larger interventions are needed. The above drawing isn’t meant to give a final picture of Tump53. Rather it shows suggestions where these interventions could take place and what shape they could take.

Renovate and possibly extend the building to enable new uses New kitchen facilities ideally in the corner next to the entrance, which would allow for a counter to serve a terrace

A covered terrace to provide seating throughout the year

A forest school area for local primary schools

development of the open space as an outdoor exhibition space

A clearance in the reed beds could host activities such as meditation or picknicking, if possible regarding wildlife The â&#x20AC;&#x153;outer ringâ&#x20AC;? of Tump53 could be used for community projects or use of particular groups, such as fishing ocanoeing

“WHAT WAS MAGICAL ABOUT OUR MAKER SPACE WAS THAT IT WAS MULTIGENERATIONAL. IT WAS ALL AGES. THERE WAS A LOT OF PEER TEACHING. IF YOU LEARNED SOMETHING, YOU GOT TO TEACH SOMEBODY… SO THE CULTURE THAT WE BUILT AROUND MAKING WAS AMAZING AND VERY STRONG.” - JEFF STURGES FOUNDER OF THE MT. ELLIOTT MAKERSPACE IN DETROIT

WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS

We strongly believe that local people and organisations should be involved as closely as possible in the redevelopment of the tump to ensure a sense of community co-creation and ownership. Examples of organisations that should be included in the process are: + The Tump53 Friends Group + local primary schools + The Link + Hawksmoor Youth Club + Birchmere Community Centre + Mooring residents + Woolwich Polytechnic As we said, making at Tump53 should not be viewed as a straitjacket and other local groups such as angling clubs should also be actively engaged.

PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANISATIONS FROM OUTSIDE THAMESMEAD

Given the importance of creating new experiences for Thamesmead residents, we believe that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essential to involve organisations from outside Thamesmead to bring in knowledge and resources that are currently not available in the area. The development of the new cultural hub in Thamesmead at Southmere Lake shows that organisations can be successfully attracted from elsewhere. Crossrail and the DLR extension will help to make Thamesmead an even more attractive location for external organisations in the future. If Clear Village continues to be involved in the project, we can draw on our close connections with Machines Room and our access to a network of maker industries via a project called the Maker Mile, which we co-founded as part of a major EU project. The Maker Mile includes cutting-edge organisations like Technology Will Save Us, SAMLabs and Kano who all develop compelling new maker technologies for children.

5. CONCLUSIONS

The vision that we have set out in this document, even in its current initial shape, is an ambitious one. It is true that some of our proposals would require substantial investment, which may necessitate fundraising. However, we do think that some of these larger interventions are needed to make the most of Tump53â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential and ensure that it has a significant socio-cultural impact. Heritage Lottery grants could be a promising option. At the same time, we believe that many social and community outcomes could be achieved in other ways, with smaller interventions that address the needs of different groups and organisations in Thamesmead. With our process of engaging with and identifying the needs of different organisations, we have taken the first few steps towards creating a coalition of stakeholders that we believe can deliver the vision. The core of our vision is to use making as a way to deliver a broad range of social and community outcomes. But we believe that making could also be the key to making the project economically sustainable. It could open the way to new forms of local entrepreneurship, long-term collaborations with different institutions, or simply be a way for the community to organise themselves into a sustainable organisation. There are various models of maker spaces around the world that can be drawn on to craft a successful long-term solution for Tump53.

In conclusion, we propose that the Thamesmead community, including Peabody and Trust Thamesmead, embark on a co-creative process underpinned by a strong vision to realise the potential of Tump53 and the benefits we have outlined. Clear Village would be happy to play a role in this process and to lead or support. Tump53 is a place of tremendous promise and we hope that it is redeveloped with enthusiasm and ambition.

LIST OF PEOPLE INTERVIEWED:

London Wildlife Trust Leah McNally Matthew Frith Alister Hayes Woolwich Polytechnic Technology College for boys Tim Plumb Alexa Rendell Linton Mead Primary School Sarah Critchell Thamesmead Wardens Chris Waite Windrush Primary school Jose Alfredo Bishop John Robinson Church of England Primary School Kenneth Maslin Christian Life Centre Sue Pollock Hawksmoor Youth Club Claire Hallinan St Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church The Revd Patrick Eggleston

CONTACT CLEAR VILLAGE

Charitable Trust, Registered Charity #1142779 Admin Office Block A Vauxhall Peabody Estate, Vauxhaul Bridge Road SW1 V1TA London UK Founder, Creative & Strategic Director Thomas Ermacora Research & Report Robin Houterman Project Impact Manager robin@clear-village.org Frank van Hasselt CEO frank@clear-village.org