1 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,039 Camden held the UK's first citizens 2 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:14,679 assembly on the climate crisis, and 3 00:00:14,679 --> 00:00:15,800 Somers Town Future Neighbourhood 4 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:17,399 represents a continuation of this 5 00:00:17,399 --> 00:00:18,920 community-led climate action. 6 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,239 In practical terms, Somers Town shows 7 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:23,039 how the community can work together 8 00:00:23,039 --> 00:00:24,800 to design and deliver projects that 9 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:26,600 both tackle the climate crisis, but 10 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,160 do so in a way that helps to improve 11 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:29,760 the day-to-day lives of residents. 12 00:00:30,399 --> 00:00:31,839 The Somers Town Future Neighbourhood 13 00:00:31,839 --> 00:00:33,359 Programme has allowed Somers Town 14 00:00:33,359 --> 00:00:35,159 Community Association, based in the 15 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:36,759 heart of Somers Town, to actually 16 00:00:36,759 --> 00:00:38,719 bring climate and sustainability into 17 00:00:38,719 --> 00:00:40,200 the programme of activities that 18 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:41,840 we deliver for the Somers Town residents, 19 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,079 focusing on education 20 00:00:44,079 --> 00:00:45,079 through our learning hub. 21 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,399 By bringing people with you, you 22 00:00:47,399 --> 00:00:49,359 don't have to work in opposition, 23 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,119 or you're not imposing something 24 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:52,880 that is difficult to get through. 25 00:00:53,119 --> 00:00:54,159 Climate change hits the 26 00:00:54,159 --> 00:00:55,759 most vulnerable the hardest. 27 00:00:55,759 --> 00:00:57,600 And this approach, which looks 28 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:59,280 at the small stuff as well as the 29 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,119 big stuff, means that we bring 30 00:01:01,119 --> 00:01:02,799 people with us when we're making 31 00:01:02,799 --> 00:01:04,319 positive changes to their lives. 32 00:01:12,879 --> 00:01:15,400 As a social supermarket, residents 33 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,400 volunteer their time, to help 34 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,000 us collect and redistribute food 35 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:21,280 that would otherwise go to waste 36 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:22,640 from 45 stores. 37 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:24,920 This is our Room of Things behind 38 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,799 me, where residents can redistribute 39 00:01:27,799 --> 00:01:29,439 items that they no longer need and 40 00:01:29,439 --> 00:01:31,519 they can take items that they may need. 41 00:01:31,879 --> 00:01:33,519 It also allowed us to take these 42 00:01:33,519 --> 00:01:35,920 items to local nurseries, the 43 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:37,319 library and a secondary school. 44 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,959 And to show that actually 45 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:41,519 pre-loved saves you money. 46 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:43,480 Pre-loved is good for the planet. 47 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:45,239 I always say it's vulnerable people 48 00:01:45,239 --> 00:01:46,719 first, sustainability second. 49 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,480 So the green banner needs to 50 00:01:49,599 --> 00:01:52,400 explore that conversation wider. 51 00:01:52,959 --> 00:01:54,879 We are doing the grow-it-yourself up 52 00:01:54,879 --> 00:01:57,159 here and we do the cook-it-yourself 53 00:01:57,159 --> 00:01:59,000 downstairs and the community larder. 54 00:01:59,319 --> 00:02:00,599 The community come up here. 55 00:02:00,599 --> 00:02:02,400 We grow crops as you 56 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:03,599 can see all around us. 57 00:02:03,599 --> 00:02:06,480 There's potatoes, mint, coriander. 58 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,120 People then grow and water it, 59 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,120 maintain it, and then they take the 60 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:12,800 produce to use themselves at home. 61 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,439 So it reduces carbon footprint. 62 00:02:14,759 --> 00:02:15,840 It's all homegrown. 63 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:17,759 You know what's in your cooking as well. 64 00:02:18,159 --> 00:02:20,039 Our Cholo Kha'i and Sharing Space Eats 65 00:02:20,039 --> 00:02:22,039 projects give Somers Town residents 66 00:02:22,039 --> 00:02:23,919 new opportunities to work 67 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:25,520 in the food business, 68 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:26,840 in environmentally-friendly 69 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,039 vegetarian Bengali cooking, and it gives 70 00:02:30,039 --> 00:02:32,039 them a pathway from resident to chef. 71 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:33,560 So we're giving Bengali ladies the 72 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,879 opportunities to harness their skill 73 00:02:35,879 --> 00:02:37,680 sets in cooking, which they built 74 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:39,560 up over time, and to give them new 75 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:41,719 opportunities within the catering 76 00:02:41,719 --> 00:02:43,639 industry in the Somers Town area. 77 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:45,199 We've got eight grow beds here. 78 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:46,599 And they've been able to 79 00:02:46,599 --> 00:02:48,400 grow cultural vegetable and 80 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:49,719 things that's home to them. 81 00:02:50,319 --> 00:02:51,240 They've been able to share 82 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,240 recipes amongst people, and 83 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:54,159 they're going to be buying one 84 00:02:54,159 --> 00:02:55,759 less gourd from the local shop. 85 00:03:05,719 --> 00:03:08,240 We have a target of 50 internal 86 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:09,919 wall insulation installations 87 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:11,560 in the Somers Town area. 88 00:03:11,759 --> 00:03:13,479 The main benefit for the tenants 89 00:03:13,479 --> 00:03:16,080 is less waste generated from 90 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:17,639 heat escaping through the walls. 91 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,000 This should lead to the tenants having 92 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,680 a warmer home and reduced energy bills. 93 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,000 And the reduced energy consumption 94 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,879 will also create carbon savings. 95 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,919 We are open every Thursday, 3 to 6. 96 00:03:30,039 --> 00:03:32,199 We are providing free vegetarian lunch, 97 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:33,719 clothes swap, books swap, 98 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,000 free workshop. 99 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,439 One is fixing and mending. 100 00:03:36,719 --> 00:03:39,280 Recycling, upcycling, food waste. 101 00:03:39,599 --> 00:03:41,240 And we are providing resident free 102 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,879 LED light bulb and me and my colleague 103 00:03:43,879 --> 00:03:46,319 Halima, we run a energy saver club. 104 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,879 People can come here, share their 105 00:03:48,879 --> 00:03:51,000 ideas, skill, all these things. 106 00:03:51,479 --> 00:03:52,479 They build their confidence. 107 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:54,400 One of the main benefits is 108 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:56,199 the physical aspect of it. 109 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:57,520 Giving them something to do. 110 00:03:57,960 --> 00:03:58,759 Being able to come out the 111 00:03:58,759 --> 00:04:00,520 house, even a bit of watering. 112 00:04:00,599 --> 00:04:01,879 Just touching the soil and 113 00:04:01,879 --> 00:04:03,240 getting actively involved has 114 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:04,520 really mentally helped them. 115 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:06,199 Your bike project is a social 116 00:04:06,199 --> 00:04:07,479 enterprise specialising in 117 00:04:07,479 --> 00:04:08,919 upcycling and cycle maintenance. 118 00:04:08,919 --> 00:04:10,639 Essentially, we collect all abandoned 119 00:04:10,639 --> 00:04:12,080 bikes within central London. 120 00:04:12,439 --> 00:04:13,919 We've enabled local people 121 00:04:13,919 --> 00:04:15,800 to claim their own bikes. 122 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:17,680 So essentially this year 123 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,240 we've donated up to 80. 124 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,040 The green mobility hubs are locations 125 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,120 in Somers town that will include 126 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,600 e-scooter and bike hire, shared cargo, 127 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,199 bikes, car clubs, and cycle hangers 128 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:38,319 for residents to store their bikes. 129 00:04:39,399 --> 00:04:40,920 The programme will make it easier 130 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:42,360 for people to use sustainable 131 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,319 modes to travel and to move goods. 132 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:47,519 We'll also introduce rain 133 00:04:47,519 --> 00:04:48,879 gardens which will increase 134 00:04:48,879 --> 00:04:50,680 the area's climate resilience. 135 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:52,920 This is Somers Town Energy Center 136 00:04:52,959 --> 00:04:54,160 in the heart of Somers Town. 137 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:55,519 It supplies heat to 550 138 00:04:55,879 --> 00:04:57,120 homes in a local school. 139 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:58,759 The Future Neighborhood funding allowed 140 00:04:58,759 --> 00:05:00,439 us to extend the network to a tower 141 00:05:00,439 --> 00:05:02,120 block in the area, but also to look 142 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:03,800 into how we can decarbonise the network 143 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:05,279 fully with air source heat pumps. 144 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,120 Our programme included the installation 145 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,639 of over 200 solar panels at the school. 146 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,759 These panels will save about 16 147 00:05:13,759 --> 00:05:16,120 tonnes of carbon a year, equivalent 148 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:18,560 to planting about 750 trees. 149 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:20,040 There's also a significant 150 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:21,560 element of increasing climate 151 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:22,600 literacy in the borough. 152 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:23,680 And we've been doing that at 153 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:24,839 Regent High School through some 154 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:26,360 afterschool green energy clubs. 155 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,160 As you can see with our fantastic 156 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:30,920 solar panels up here on the roof, 157 00:05:31,199 --> 00:05:32,759 provided through Power Up North 158 00:05:32,759 --> 00:05:35,519 London, we hope it will provide green, 159 00:05:35,519 --> 00:05:37,560 renewable and sustainable energy. 160 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,399 We hope it will help to reduce our 161 00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:41,800 carbon footprint and ultimately 162 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,360 The projections that we've done 163 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,240 have proved that we will be able 164 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,079 to reduce those electricity bills. 165 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,279 Reimagining Charlton Street is a project 166 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,279 that seeks to turn Somers Town's main 167 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:53,959 high street into a more welcoming, 168 00:05:53,959 --> 00:05:56,000 inclusive and climate resilient place. 169 00:05:56,319 --> 00:05:58,600 So, we've done some engagement and 170 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,639 collaboration with the local kids 171 00:06:00,639 --> 00:06:02,399 from Maria Fideli School, which 172 00:06:02,399 --> 00:06:03,639 is just around the corner, to 173 00:06:03,639 --> 00:06:05,639 reimagine this space that you can 174 00:06:05,639 --> 00:06:07,439 see behind me and to turn it into a 175 00:06:07,439 --> 00:06:09,439 more pleasant and well used space. 176 00:06:09,959 --> 00:06:10,720 The community have helped 177 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:11,519 shape the plans here at 178 00:06:11,519 --> 00:06:12,879 Levita House North Courtyard. 179 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:13,920 There's been lots of landscape 180 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:15,439 improvements which has included 181 00:06:15,439 --> 00:06:16,680 protecting the existing trees, 182 00:06:16,959 --> 00:06:18,399 we've put in some new trees as well, 183 00:06:18,399 --> 00:06:19,680 we've got some large linear rain 184 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:21,079 gardens that have gone in, as well 185 00:06:21,079 --> 00:06:22,360 as seating for people to relax and 186 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:23,279 enjoy the greener neighbourhood. 187 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,839 Training Link's been providing community 188 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,639 education in Somers Town for 40 years. 189 00:06:36,959 --> 00:06:38,959 By adding green learning to what we 190 00:06:38,959 --> 00:06:41,560 already do, we've been able to attract 191 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,040 new people and be part of other 192 00:06:44,079 --> 00:06:46,079 green initiatives in the area with 193 00:06:46,079 --> 00:06:49,199 practical workshops like beeswax food 194 00:06:49,199 --> 00:06:52,319 wraps, visible mending, and recycled 195 00:06:52,319 --> 00:06:54,319 jewellery making as well as climate 196 00:06:54,319 --> 00:06:56,240 change related quizzes and sessions. 197 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:58,079 What we're standing in 198 00:06:58,079 --> 00:07:00,199 here now is the make space. 199 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:01,800 And this is where I do workshops 200 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,560 on a Thursday, engaging the 201 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,199 community into upcycling, recycling, 202 00:07:06,199 --> 00:07:07,800 and reusing their clothes. 203 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,160 My job is to help people to 204 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:11,480 help people to 205 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,120 reuse the clothes that they have. 206 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:15,839 The extended project qualification is 207 00:07:15,839 --> 00:07:17,920 a 12-week course that supports local 208 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,920 people to develop projects that will 209 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:21,959 make their neighbourhood greener, fairer 210 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,759 and safer, including contributing to 211 00:07:24,759 --> 00:07:26,519 future neighbourhood partner projects. 212 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:28,680 At the end of the 12-week course, 213 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:30,680 participants are supported to apply 214 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,720 for funding to implement their projects 215 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:34,560 and submit a portfolio of their 216 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,319 research and development work for 217 00:07:36,319 --> 00:07:39,240 accreditation, earning them 28 UCAS 218 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,439 points, equivalent to half an A level. 219 00:07:41,839 --> 00:07:43,560 Charlton Street is important to 220 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,959 the local community as a place for 221 00:07:45,959 --> 00:07:47,600 the community to come together, 222 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,800 for them to buy reasonably priced 223 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,480 goods and for local makers 224 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:53,920 to sell their products. 225 00:07:54,199 --> 00:07:56,199 We're looking to support that by 226 00:07:56,199 --> 00:07:58,720 upgrading the electricity and reviewing 227 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,959 the hours and days of the market. 228 00:08:01,399 --> 00:08:03,519 Our ultimate aim is to create a 229 00:08:03,519 --> 00:08:06,000 circular economy market where all 230 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,000 goods are repurposed or reused. 231 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:19,920 So what next? 232 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,439 Climate sustainability is an emergency 233 00:08:22,439 --> 00:08:24,600 that we're all facing and through 234 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:25,600 the work that we've been doing in the 235 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:27,040 past three years what we're really 236 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:28,600 really hoping is the partnerships 237 00:08:28,639 --> 00:08:30,399 and collaborations will come together 238 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,559 to enable us to continue this work. 239 00:08:32,919 --> 00:08:34,360 So if you want to get involved 240 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:35,320 and you want to be part of 241 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:36,799 this then give us a call. 242 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,279 Somers Town provides a blueprint for 243 00:08:39,279 --> 00:08:40,840 how communities can help tackle the 244 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:42,840 climate crisis in a way that responds 245 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:44,480 to the needs of people's daily lives. 246 00:08:44,799 --> 00:08:46,399 It also provides the social and 247 00:08:46,399 --> 00:08:47,720 cultural foundations for some of the 248 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:49,480 deeper infrastructure investments that 249 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,120 are required to really decarbonise 250 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,399 parts of Camden and London as a whole. 251 00:08:53,799 --> 00:08:54,919 This is definitely the way to 252 00:08:54,919 --> 00:08:56,240 do it, with residents right at 253 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:57,519 the heart of decision making.