LEAP is a family-health project that set out to transform hidden local places and spaces in Lambeth to improve health outcomes for families with young children. The programme worked with eleven existing community facilities including community centres and spaces on housing estates and children’s centres. Design briefs were co-developed with local parents, community groups and early years practitioners. This approach resulted in a group of highly bespoke and diverse design interventions which respond to local needs. Key objectives across all projects were to create community infrastructure that is visible and welcoming, supports connectedness and healthy living, offers doorstep health services and to invest in families with young children.

Designs offer sculptural and useful alterations of buildings and spaces. The purpose of the funding was not to supplement meagre repair budgets but to achieve interventions that however small are transformative and proud.

LEAP is an innovative ten-year programme (2015 to 2025) operating in four of Lambeth’s most deprived wards. It is one of five programmes funded as part of the National Lottery’s A Better Start initiative. LEAP is hosted by the National Children’s Bureau and comprises of Lambeth Council and CCG, King’s Health Partners as well as schools, nurseries, police leaders, local voluntary organisations, community groups and families. LEAP came together to improve children’s lives by radically changing the way agencies collectively work with pregnant mothers, fathers, babies, their families and communities. The programme’s focus is on three main development areas: social & emotional, communication & language and diet & nutrition.

Looking beyond LEAP the improvements support the longevity and economic viability of important community assets by:

- providing attractive spaces that can be rented out,
- reducing operating costs through improved thermal performance, new windows, doors and daylighting, and
- increasing the visibility of and community pride in the refurbished assets.

Projects showcased for consideration are: Cowley Estate family garden, Jubilee Children’s Centre, Loughborough Children’s Centre, Max Roach One O’Clock Club, St Stephen’s Children’s Centre and Liz Atkinson Children’s Centre.

Jubilee Children’s Centre

The extension to the existing centre includes a new parents’ room, where parents can gather outside scheduled sessions, health room, multi-agency working and a new courtyard garden for outdoor play. 

Loughborough Children’s Centre 

The centre was hidden and unassuming. The new entrance extension means it can no longer be missed. A new kitchen for communal cooking and family garden for outside place add value for the families visiting the centre.

Brockwell One O’Clock Club

The previously barren garden now showcases woven willow dens, biodiverse planting, food growing and an undulating surface for climbing and playing. Local families play and observe the bugs, frogs and lizards who have made the garden their home. A new kitchen facilitates communal cooking and eating. 

Cowley Estate family garden and yard

Lush planting, colourful bespoke play structure, seating and new link to and refurbishment of the existing community centre courtyard.

St Stephen’s Children’s Centre

Similar to Jubilee Children’s Centre the extension provides additional spaces including a parents’ and clinical space. Space at St Stephen’s Primary School was extremely constraint which led to the design of a first floor extension for the highly oversubscribed centre.

Max Roach One O’Clock Club

To free up much needed internal space for a new kitchen and office the design extended the clubhouse to create a new entrance lobby and buggy store in the form of a mini-me timber clad structure with green roof. 

Liz Atkinson's Children's Centre

A new community garden with growing beds, sensory garden, play, a covered outdoor area and generous storage.

Tulse Hill Estate Small Hall

Tulse Hill Small Hall, a dark and windowless space, was renewed. New windows and doors bring in daylight, new storage and toilets make the space more useful to the community. The transformed space breathed new life into the managing organisation and there is now a full programme of activities and engagement for residents.