What happens when emerging Community Asset Developers, from 10 cities and towns across England, gather together in one room?
Peers sharing stories in the Good Shepherd Studios Annex
On the final day of January, People and Place peers gathered for the first time in Leytonstone at Good Shepherd Studios, a community asset development project led by pioneer Danie Gilbert. The gathering was an inaugural and exciting day to kick off the programme, and marked the start of their next 12-months together. Peers, hailing from Plymouth to Grimsby, from Sheffield to Bicester, spent the day sparking connections, sharing their stories of neighbourhood transformation, and exchanging ideas.
“to be able to share and have a moment to pause and acknowledge the change and improvements that have been achieved since Footwork first visited our building genuinely put a lump in my throat. Meeting the 2025 intake at the start of their Footwork programme was so energising and I came away feeling proud and hungry to continue the work” Danie Gilbert, Good Shepherd Studios
Danie Gilbert sharing the story of Good Shepherd Studios with the peer group
Last Friday’s peer gathering is one part of a programme that unites and supports a growing movement of ambitious leaders in the early stages of developing community assets in their neighbourhoods. Each one of these emerging Community Asset Developers (CADs) are working to shift power around assets, like housing, land and buildings, in response to an acute local challenge or need.
Peers joined in workshops in the Good Shepherd Studio Auditorium
Over the following 11 months this peer group of CADs will continue to meet and share experiences, travel to visit pioneering community-led development projects and tackle their knotty challenge areas with their mentors.
Inspired, hopeful, reflective, nourished—these were the words peers shared at the close of the day, capturing a group energised by their shared mission to shift power in their neighbourhoods. Here’s to the next 12 months!
Peers and co-facilitators with cheesy grins at the close of day
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