“This estate is like a small village, and we’re developing more villagey mindsets.”
For almost 30 years, James has called Loraine Estate home. Through his passion for gardening and community action, he’s helped transform shared spaces and bring neighbours together.
As part of our resident-led community budgeting project, people living on Loraine Estate have been given the power to decide how £70,000 is spent to improve health, wellbeing and everyday life in their community. From new vegetable planters and gardening projects to activities that help residents connect like British Sign Language classes, the impact is already being felt across the estate.
James says the process has created a stronger sense of community, with more people getting involved, volunteering and taking pride in where they live. The estate’s biggest-ever summer party brought together residents from every block, showing what can happen when local people have a real say in shaping their neighbourhood.
Loraine Estate is home to people from many different backgrounds, and that diversity is one of its strengths. As James puts it: “Everyone is a minority here, so nobody is – we’re all in it together.”
Tomorrow you can read James’s full story on the Islington Life website.
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