Highlights of Summer!

We had an incredibly busy summer of youth led community events and we are so glad so many volunteers and residents were able to join us!

Regent’s Park Estate Community Festival – 6th August

In a word, The Regent’s Park Estate Community Festival was joyous – so many people, neighbours, coming together to chat, share stories, watch, dance, play, sing and eat together. The festival was initiated by Community Champions Regent’s Park – a group of volunteer residents and organisations working to improve wellbeing through social action in the area. It was co-produced by Fitzrovia Youth in Action and Old Diorama Arts Centre, with support from many others, and programmed with local residents and young people. Our Youth led team were trained in events management, customer service and public speaking, they designed the vibe of the festival, decided activities and undertook detailed risk assessments! The event included a dance stage at Old Diorama, Story Tree clay activities and market stalls in Clarence Gardens including Talkaoke, Steel pan music and catering area and Cumberland Market with inflatable fun, Radio Local and the Cobbles Stage of youth performances!

At the beginning of the event, only 44% of attendees reported their sense of community belonging as 8 or more out of 10. After the event 73% of guests reported their sense of community belonging as 8 or more out of 10 and there was a 55% increase in sense of community belonging overall. 99% of guests rated the event good or brilliant, with 62% rating brilliant.

‘This event is actually incredible!! The team should be so proud of creating it. All the different activities, the food, the entertainment – its amazing, And the vibe and the colours have transformed the areas so they feel so different and positive. For the first time in a long time we are so proud to live here.’ Guests and local residents M&I

‘It has been so fantastic for me, both as Mayor, and a local councillor here, to see young people in our area being given the opportunity and power to make such a positive difference – from the dancers from Remix and their parents, to old diorama, to the young people running the catering, customer service and stage, to the community champions and stewards helping to make sure everyone has a fantastic time. The buzz was electric and I am so thankful and impressed.’ Mayor of Camden, Nasim Ali

‘What a fantastic day – it was so lovely to have it in more areas than in Cumberland Market and be able to include more residents. Such a brilliant range of activities across the sites for everyone to be able to take part and great to see so many local people and organisations running the event and stalls and volunteering, but also seeing so many of the guests who live here. It felt like it was very much made for us and that is special.’ Local resident

‘What an absolutely brilliant event! Many thanks to you all at FYA and ODAC for making this happen. I am so proud and happy to have both your organisations invested in the area, its what I have always aspired for and you are making it reality’ Nassar, The Euston Partnership (and local resident)

‘Just want to say thank you so much for today. I met a lot of interesting people. I spoke to so many and heard such positive feedback – lots said we should do more events like this to get the community together. Well done team!’ H, Community Champion

Special thank you to all the performers, contributors and collaborators who made the Regent’s Park Community Festival such an exciting and vibrant afternoon.

To see some more images and information head to www.communitychampionscamden.co.uk/events/rpecommunityfestival and to see what the full programme included head to: https://www.olddiorama.com/news/regents-park-estate-festival-full-programme

Youth Ambassadors Cultural Event – 8th August

Our Youth Ambassadors planned earlier in the year that they wanted to run an activity for the community to engage with the Warren Centre and decided to run the Warren Community Cultural Evening, celebrating the diversity and wonder that our area has.

Due to the beautiful weather, the event was moved into the play area outdoors which worked wonderfully. Over 30 local residents attended and 15 residents from the wider local area. There was henna, games, a quiz, food from local restaurants Cafe Rio and Gupta’s and some made by local residents. Residents were also able to inform the final decisions for street party and suggest what they would like to see this year and next year.

Fitzrovia Street Party – FYA is 25!! – 20th August

This year was a very special Street Party for us as we turned 25! It was a fantastic celebration with local residents, some of our founders and volunteers historically and current. And of course, there was cake!

The event included inflatable fun, mini golf, photobooth, henna, circus skills and game stalls! Food was provided by local restaurant Agra and it really did feel like a celebration of our local residents for supporting us all this time, with special mention of our friend and champion Toks, who passed away earlier this year.

At the beginning of the event, only 46% of attendees reported their sense of community belonging as 8 or more out of 10. After the event 71% of guests reported their sense of community belonging as 8 or more out of 10 and there was a 47% increase in sense of community belonging overall. 94% of guests rated the event good or brilliant, with 61% rating brilliant.

‘Was such a joy to be here and see how far everything has come since i volunteered myself years ago. There is something very special about the events being led by and run by young people who want to do something for others.’

This has been great. Had a chance to get involved with the community to improve communal areas, good to see everyone coming together’

‘Lovely sense of community – enormously impressed by all the effort that was put in towards the event’

The youth events team organised both Regent’s Park Estate Community Festival and Street Party! They worked incredibly hard over summer and will all be continuing their amazing work as young Guardians and Youth Ambassadors later this year.

‘When I started at Prince’s Trust I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was lacking in confidence…when I met with Miss Ellie I was so shy and unsure but immediately FYA felt like I belonged. I started on a two-week placement as part of Princes Trust and I have kept coming back weekly for this project. I wanted to gain experience in customer service, and I have gained that and more. It’s been one of the best experiences of my life.’ A2

‘I feel like I have increased my confidence and feel so much between about myself from being part of this team and doing these events. My communication skills have increased and I have made genuine friends both from this team and the stewards who have supported us. I really hope to do more projects like this and will apply to become a youth ambassador at FYA in the autumn!’ N2

‘I have definitely increased my confidence both as a public speaker and a performer. I also found an inner strength and resilience I didn’t know I had when things went wrong. Although I got upset, the team empowered me to get back on stage and try again. I am really proud of myself, and street party meant I had another try to get more confident again and it was so much better that time. I hope to do more.’ N1

You can see more photos and our video here – Here’s to another 25!