The idea
V22 will pilot a project for affordable workspace combined with crèche provision in our Dalston studio building. This project is in partnership with Brighton-based organisation Officrèche, London-based The CoWork Space Co. and our neighbours: the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden. The funding will convert a 120 m2 studio on the ground floor of the premises into desk space and crèche space. We will create a space that is both child and work friendly, opening up windows and connections with the garden and child-proofing and dividing the space as necessary. We also want to incorporate Officrèche’s flexible online booking system into our intranet so that tenants/ members can book desk and crèche space. We hope this collaboration with Officrèche, rated Ofsted Outstanding, will form the basis for an ongoing partnership for incorporating flexible childcare provision into several more of our buildings across London.
What we'll deliver
- Create a deskspace area
- Make the entrance buggy and child friendly
- Create a safe creche space
- Create access to the garden
- Subdivide a studio space
Why it's a great idea
The crèche facilities will attract new parents wanting to get back to work sooner and will thus support businesses, their staff, CEO’s and founders as well as enable new businesses to start-up and freelance contracts to be fulfilled. More people (often those who are parents) are choosing to work freelance and on a part-time basis, and although co-working spaces are popping up all the time across the country, there is still much to be done to improve childcare options for parents, to enable and encourage them to work more flexibly and start new business ventures. Co-working spaces that offer childcare have the potential to be a brilliant solution to this workspace issue. The Partnership with the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden brings significant benefits, providing users and children direct access to a valuable managed green space and educational programme. The garden will be able to deliver more workshops and events by utilising the crèche and deskspace, particularly at weekends.
Steps to get it done
- Integration with community garden workshops
- Rental of deskspace and crèche sessions
- Subdivision and fit out of space
