Inquiry Phase: Good Neighbourhood Collective
Between August 2024 and February 2025, we worked with 16 local residents - including four young people - as part of the Good Neighbourhood Collective, a four-month Inquiry programme designed to explore what makes a fairer neighbourhood, and how local people can take the lead in shaping it.
This was the second phase of the Good Neighbourhood Project, following our earlier exploration through imagination workshops and creative engagement. Where the Exploration phase surfaced ideas, the Inquiry phase was about action - giving people the time, tools, and support to turn those ideas into practical proposals.
Building the Collective
We recruited 16 people who live, work or study in South Hampstead and Swiss Cottage. Some had deep roots in the area; others were new to the neighbourhood. We had parents, sixth-formers, full-time professionals... What they shared was a desire to be more involved and an openness to learning together.
From the beginning, we were clear: this wasn’t a consultation. It was a collective process, where power would be shared, ideas would be challenged, and outcomes would be shaped together.
We ran weekly sessions, blending training, community engagement, group learning and deliberative conversations. Along the way, we made some key design choices.
How we designed the process
Training was foundational. In the early weeks, we focused on building the group’s confidence and skills — in public speaking, community engagement, and decision-making. We introduced frameworks for understanding how local decisions are made and invited guest speakers to offer professional insight.
Community engagement was continuous. We encouraged each participant to speak to neighbours, friends, and networks — gathering views through conversations, surveys, and informal interviews. This wasn't just an exercise; it was a way to make sure their ideas were grounded in lived experience.
Ideas were developed collaboratively. Using input from the community and from expert guests, the group developed and tested potential proposals. Over time, these were refined into a shortlist of key recommendations — spanning food, mental health, and community spaces.
Decision-making was shared. The Inquiry culminated in the Good Neighbourhood Assembly, where the Collective presented the shortlist of key recommendations. Over 120 people participated in the vote, online and in-person, to choose the final six recommendations (three community-led ideas and three recommendations for decision-makers). This democratic process determined which ideas would move forward into the Action Phase.
What worked well
The training structure gave people confidence. Several participants had never spoken in a public space before. By the Assembly, they were presenting with clarity and conviction.
Group relationships grew stronger over time. The diversity of the group — in age, background, and life experience — became a strength. People supported each other, debated ideas, and showed up with care and commitment.
Mixing expertise and lived experience enriched the process. Guest experts helped refine ideas and build understanding, but it was the participants who led the way.
What we’d do differently
Be clearer earlier about outcomes. It took time for the group to fully understand the distinction between community-led projects and ideas aimed at decision-makers. Some participants wished they had this clarity sooner, to better shape their ideas.
Manage time and energy more carefully. Weekly sessions were energising but demanding. Life events, work, and caring responsibilities made it hard for some people to stay involved - something we’re thinking about for future programme design.
Balance structure and flexibility. While many appreciated the clear programme, others wanted more space to shape the agenda. One-to-one check-ins helped, but this tension is something we’ll keep learning from.
What we’re taking forward
The Inquiry didn’t just produce six recommendations - it produced a community of practice. People who are now leading the next phase of work. People who are running workshops, speaking to councillors, and inviting neighbours into something bigger.
We’ll carry forward these learnings into the Action Phase, and into the next neighbourhood mission (focusing on the environment). But more than anything, we’re learning how to hold space for local people to lead - not as volunteers, or consultees, but as co-creators of their neighbourhood.