As part of the London Festival of Architecture 2026, we conceived an activity that brought together all our skills and interests by hosting a Food for Thought dinner on the theme of belonging.

Set within Grow Box — a meanwhile space we are running as part of Canning Town Regeneration — the evening was catered by the amazing local resident Freda Francis of Deliciously Rooted. Each course was accompanied by a conversation prompt, encouraging guests to reflect on how we can all contribute to and amplify belonging within our projects and neighbourhoods.

The event took place during Loneliness Awareness Week, and almost every speaker mentioned the importance of spaces like Grow Box in creating opportunities for connection, relationships, confidence and growth. Through simple opportunities to spend time together, we can begin to combat the extreme levels of loneliness people are experiencing in society today.

Takeaways from each course

Starter

Food: Stuffed vine leaves made by make:good's George

Conversation: What helps us build belonging?

Speakers: Freda Francis (Deliciously Rooted) and AJ Mills (Sign Up Now CIC)

Freda and AJ both live near Grow Box and were invited to run activities in the space for their neighbours. They spoke about how being paid to share their skills has impacted their confidence and sense of belonging.

We heard how opportunities to share skills and interests locally can build esteem, spark new businesses and organisations, and create a genuine sense of belonging both to and within an area.

Spaces that allow people to try things out are key to building local skills and confidence. Activities run by and for peers and neighbours are crucial — otherwise we risk continually bringing people in from elsewhere rather than supporting grassroots opportunities within our own communities.

When we think about belonging, we also need to think about how we invite others to belong. Small details make a huge difference: language, refreshments, physical access and countless other considerations all shape whether people feel welcome. We can all make more effort to foster belonging in our work and neighbourhoods.

Main

Food: Burnt, sticky harissa aubergine with tahini yoghurt, toasted pumpkin seeds and olive crumb 

Conversation: Why build belonging in from the start?

Speakers: Emily Berwyn (Meanwhile Space) and Dami Segun (London Borough of Newham)

Emily, a Director at Meanwhile Space — our partner on the project — and Dami, our client at London Borough of Newham, spoke about the ethos behind Grow Box and the role meanwhile spaces can play in supporting wider regeneration aims.

We heard there is huge value in simply trying, getting started and not waiting for things to be perfect — because they never are. Roll up your sleeves and get going. Try activities, spend time together, embrace craft, movement, food and conversation — all the things that give people a reason to gather and activate a place.

Once things are running, you can begin to see which ideas might scale into longer-term projects or businesses, but we shouldn’t underestimate the importance of simple, consistent opportunities for people to come together.

Meanwhile projects also allow local authorities to embed community activation, skills and ownership while larger designs and developments are still being prepared. Across the long timelines of neighbourhood change, they provide something tangible for people to experience — a glimpse of what future change could feel like.

Dessert

Food: Rhubarb pavlova

Conversation: How does creative activity help build belonging?

Speaker: Ife Okwudili (Community Clay Newham CIC)

Ife is a Newham resident who founded Community Clay Newham to harness the power of craft to bring people together and support human connection.

She spoke about the value of humble spaces that give people somewhere to spend time together, share skills, learn and build relationships. These spaces should never be underestimated. Activities can be quiet and ordinary, but when they are peer-to-peer they hold enormous value in building belonging.

Tea and coffee

Food: Tea, coffee and vegan brownies

Conversation: Why does belonging matter for young people?

Speaker: Amina Mohamed (Belong Kick CIC)

Amina previously worked at make, completing her project management apprenticeship in 2025 before leaving to develop her own youth sports organisation, Belong Kick.

She made a powerful case that young people want the same opportunities to connect and spend time together as everybody else, but we have done them a huge disservice by removing these spaces or making them prohibitively expensive.

We all need to think more carefully about how we respond to young people in shared spaces, and how we can support access to activities and places that nourish future generations.

Tips going forward

• Space matters, but it can be humble — it just needs to feel welcoming. Don’t let waiting for a glossy space stop you from starting.

  
  

• Providing paid opportunities for local people to run activities is crucial for sustainability and widening participation beyond those who can afford to volunteer their time.

  
  

• Paying attention to small details really does matter. People notice them, and they help set the tone for relationships and trust.

  
  

• Get started, try things and be prepared to get things wrong along the way so you can learn and adapt.

  
  

• Protect spaces for young people to come together and build their own sense of belonging.

Conclusion

After each talk, we were reminded how powerful it is simply to have a place where people can come together, take part in activities and try things out. Perhaps Grow Box’s contribution is as simple — and as important — as that.

All in all, it was a wonderful evening. People noticed both the big and little details, and it was a joy to hear so many guests describe the evening as special. They experienced what it feels like to belong with the make:good team — and that sense of belonging is something we aim to bring into all our projects.