Chalton St. Market has been part of the fabric of Somers Town for over 100 years but is more than just a market. It is home to an ambitious engaged and diverse community – a community that want their local market to succeed and grow. But Somers Town is changing with the delivery of a number of major construction projects including HS2. Now is the time to strengthen the market as the intergenerational economic and social hub of the area so that it can support community resilience and help local people capture potential from opportunities nearby. We will nurture local talent, supporting people to gain enterprise skills and trial their business ideas on the market. New traders will diversify the range of goods available, providing local access to fresh fruit, veg & more, and supporting local families to eat healthily. A programme of family-focused community events will showcase the improved market offer, increasing footfall and offering market traders the very best chance of success.

What we'll deliver:

• Deliver enterprise skills for local people and build on success of existing community social enterprise stalls
• Position the market as the focal point of the community
• Provide much wanted local access to fresh fruit, veg & more
• Provide new market start-up fund and some rent-free stalls, and incentivise healthy produce
• Increase signage and improve the market environment
• Increase the number of traders and market footfall
• Run a programme of exciting community events
• Support market as a hub for information - employment, skills and healthy living
• Support young families with healthy eating through Healthy Start vouchers

Why it's a great idea:

Local people want fresh healthy produce! The improved market offer will respond to the community, preventing people from having to travel long distances to access fresh and affordable produce and enabling them to eat healthy meals. Money saved on bus fares might even be reinvested in the market, providing a boost to market income. Local employers feel that some residents lack confidence in the work place. Providing residents with real world experience while offering skills and employment training will boost their confidence to engage in their community, professionally and personally. This will give them the very best chance of success in the working world – whether they decide to pursue their new business venture on the market or wish to access an opportunity in the wider local area. Boosting the market’s atmosphere with community events will support the market to grow, increasing footfall and encouraging community resilience in the face of change.

Steps to get it done:

• Deliver market enterprise training experience, supporting local people and delivering lots of fresh fruit, veg & more
• Deliver programme of exciting and engaging community events
• Equip the market to deliver Healthy Start vouchers for young families & promote scheme with local residents
• Improve signage and market environment and watch footfall grow
• Initiate project with support from key partners at Business, Enterprise, Employment & Training Group
• Promote the project with local residents

Local people want their market to grow and succeed! And local partners and businesses want to help make this happen. This project is well supported by the local community. The draft Somers Town Neighbourhood Plan recognises that growth and renewal is about people as well as place. Their priorities include access to local shopping, promoting equal opportunities, encouraging economic growth & developing a sustainable community. All things that this project will address. Somers Town Business, Enterprise, Employment & Training Group – and its array of partners – is committed to supporting the project, growing trader numbers and developing local skills. These include Origin Housing, Francis Crick Institute, Somers Town Future & more. Now is the time to secure the market place as the focal point of community activity and coordinate the wealth of experience, support and opportunity in the area.