How we built a map to tackle financial insecurity
What we did
In 2023, our team in Barking and Dagenham partnered with Kingsley Hall. Together we engaged local residents to explore how to build community solutions in the centre of the borough.
The community designed and distributed a free map that provides information on community spaces and services in their area that are low cost or free to use. The aim was to identify warm, safe spaces where people can find help and advice if they need it, or simply socialise and have fun without spending lots of money.
How can a map tackle financial insecurity?
The way we work in local programmes is through co-production. By this, we mean bringing together members of the community who decide the way projects are commissioned, designed and delivered as part of the programme.
Our borough is one of the poorest boroughs in London. A lot of people are struggling, and they can find it very hard to ask for help, and then they don’t know where to go for help in a time of crisis.
This map was co-produced by residents of central Barking and Dagenham who identified a need for stronger community connections and better information. With such a diverse borough, we know that many in the community can feel excluded and often isolated. The residents wanted to make it easy for everyone to access the help, advice and services that their area has to offer.
The project began with an open session at Kingsley Hall. Following this, 18 residents signed up to become co-production partners. We ran a series of half-day, paid workshops with them, where the group shaped the map’s content, structure and design. 10,000 copies of the map were printed and distributed across the borough.
You can also access a digital version of the map on the Kingsley Hall website along with versions translated into Romanian and Bengali.
I’m a single parent myself. I’ve been in situations when you don’t know where to go when you’re struggling. This is something people can have in their pocket, so they know what to do.
The benefits of working in partnership
There are several reasons why we work in co-production with local partners like Kingsley Hall. It means we can shift power to communities and centre the voices of those with lived experience. It means we can build trusted relationships, create a respectful space to share ideas and focus the conversation on things that are most important to residents. It also allows us to pay for residents’ time, demonstrating the value they bring.
We trust Turn2us with our opinions, and they trust us to make a map.
How projects like this make change
We see the impact that this project has had on those involved: our co-production partners, Kingsley Hall and Turn2us.
Co-production partners have gained a more in-depth understanding of their community, what it provides and how it helps. It has built community togetherness by seeing how others in the community want change as they do.
Co-production partners have appreciated having a non-judgemental space where they could talk about issues like money and support safely and without shame.
Kingsley Hall have since begun a new resident’s group to co-design activities which best meet the needs of the community they serve. Kingsley Hall will continue to share learning from the project within Barking and Dagenham, aiming to provide earlier help and increase residents’ wellbeing and independence.
Turn2us have seen from this project the power of learning from the community. We will continue to do this by evaluating the impact of the map more widely in Barking and Dagenham.
I enjoyed being a part of something that would be helpful to not only the community but myself. I learnt about a lot of new places and I gained more knowledge about the area. I felt valued and appreciated.
What next?
Turn2us has committed to spend 10 years in Barking & Dagenham.
If you would like to learn more about our place-based work and current projects, please contact Barking and Dagenham Programme Manager Charlotte Moss using the form below.
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