The idea is about reclaiming the neighbourhood for all. We want to use existing, well equipped spaces within Forest Gate such as which would be efficient and cost effective in terms of overheads, in order to host monthly events chosen by those who attend.

We want to incorporate healthy eating and cookery, art exhibitions, photography, storytelling, music and other imaginative ways in which people can become involved in space on their doorstop and have a renewed feeling of ownership in their community. The first event will involve the facilitated forum to get ideas flowing, planning the project at a grassroots level.

What we'll deliver:

• We want to create a dialogue between people and place.
• We will use existing spaces in Forest Gate in order to host monthly events to promote social cohesion.
• Exercise classes designed to meet the needs of all sections the local community
• Healthy eating and cooking events tailored to the cultural diversity present in the area.
• Music events designed to bridge the gap between various section of the community
• Storytelling / local history events designed to represent the differing perspectives in Forest Gate.
• We will organise events around the markers of wellbeing in society.

Why it's a great idea:

Through engaging (one of us is a local resident, another often stays in the area and is a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Liverpool) with members of the community both virtually and online, through social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, we have noticed that there is some separation between the more rooted local residents of Forest Gate, and the 'newer arrivals'.

We feel that Forest Gate would benefit from a placemaking initiative, that supports the current regeneration project in the area, making it accessible to residents new and old.

The project aims to bring Forest Gate residents together in order to encourage a sense of belonging and ownership of their locale. The project seeks to support psychological and physical wellbeing within the community through the integration of the wider local community into the benefits the new local businesses have brought to the area.

Steps to get it done:

• We will coordinate the events and ensure that all sections of the community are included in the project.
• We will utilise existing, fully equipped and well resourced spaces in Forest Gate.
• We will put together an executive comity of local people, representative of the diversity in the area.

The idea behind the project is rooted in 'placemaking' through community-based participation: 'a quiet movement that reimagines public spaces as the heart of every community, in every city. It’s a transformative approach that inspires people to create and improve their public places. Placemaking strengthens the connection between people and the places they share' (Project for Public Spaces. See http://www.pps.org/reference/what_is_placemaking/ for more information).