Are you a place-based community or youth group?

Do you know a publicly accessible space that could better serve the needs of young people?

Young people are often excluded from decisions about their communities. Especially in areas of regeneration. At Build Up, we’re working to change that.

Build Up is a charity that runs practical construction projects across London. We support young people aged 10 – 23 to design and build public and community spaces. We bring young people, builders and designers together, equipping young people with the tools and agency to have ownership over their neighbourhoods.

Over the past ten years, we’ve co-created 50 inclusive spaces that young people still cherish. Together, we’ve built hang-out spaces, parkour courses, play areas and gardens; places where young people can relax, play socialise, and most importantly, feel welcome. Our projects enable young people to influence their local area, be heard, and regain their sense of belonging.

“It’s easy to lose faith, and think “nobody cares”, but challenging that has been helpful. It’s reminded me not to lose my aspiration for change, because it can feel like no-one cares about my community. And now I’m feeling like there are groups of people, with power, who genuinely care about community input.” Project Leader, 18

Applications are currently closed. If you would like to hear about our next Open Call, please email info@buildup.org.uk.

Our Public Spaces Open Call is open for applications from Thursday 24th October to Friday 29th November 2024

For this Open Call we’re looking for projects that support young people to shape publicly accessible outdoor spaces across London.  This might include projects on high streets, residential estates, parks, playgrounds, seating spaces and sports facilities.

Limited public space has a negative effect on young people, their mental health and their sense of belonging. We want to hear about ideas for projects that will help create spaces for young people to spend time and feel welcome in their local area. 

You might be a young person, youth group, or local resident that wants to improve or create a space in your local area for young people. Or you might be a member of an organisation (e.g. a council, housing association or tenants residents association) that manages a public space and is committed to helping young people make decisions about it.

We’ll support you through the project development process, to get the right funding, partners on board, and permissions to make it happen. We will then work with the young people involved to identify a desired use and design for the site, and build it.

+ Are focused on meeting the needs of young people in London facing structural inequalities, whether related to their ethnicity, gender, class, disability, income, housing, sexuality, care experience or other lived experiences

+ Are committed to putting decision making into the hands of those young people, and can show experience (and willingness) to listen to young people

+ Know which group of young people the project will work with

+ Have a specific site in mind (see below for more information)

+ Can dedicate time to developing and realising your project idea

+ Publicly accessible, for example parks, streets, and other areas that are open to the public

+ Intended to be in use for at least 10 years

+ We are open to proposals on sites owned by both public (for example councils, housing associations) and private bodies, or where ownership is unclear

+ In our experience it is easier to set up projects on publicly owned sites

+ Are young person centred from the start. Projects where the design and outcome have already been decided are less likely to be successful – unless you can evidence that this has been determined by local young people.

+ Address an existing need identified by local young people (or include opportunities for this need to be defined)

+ Make an uncared for environment feel more cared for

+ Promote feelings of safety, comfort and inclusion in public space

We are particularly interested in working with organisations supporting young people to address structural issues that impact them. Public space projects involve multiple local stakeholders and are an opportunity for young people to influence decision makers. 

As architects and construction workers, we know that building can be a powerful experience; one that can create feelings of ownership and belonging. We work to create access to these experiences for the young people we work with: sharing with them the tools and agency that contribute to a sense of ownership over their neighbourhoods.

1. Projects are selected by our Youth Advisory Board

2. The Build Up Team visits the site and review how feasible and viable the project might be

3. We consult young people on the current and potential future use of the site

4. Together we create a project plan. This sets out how young people and other community members local to the project will be involved in shaping it

5. We’ll then work to secure project support from landowners and relevant decision makers

6. We’ll work with you, the organisation, to get funding

7. Build Up work directly with young people to design and build the project, managing the construction process from start to finish.

You should be aware occasionally we encounter issues that stop projects from moving forward, but this is not usually the case.

A public space in Hackney that's been lovingly rebuilt to suit the needs of local young people. It has colourful benches that match the orange of autumnal leave, a nice path way and wooden posts.