Our Work

The Mill

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In March 2011 year a group of residents from Walthamstow in East London entered a building that had been vandalised and neglected over many years.  It had no phone lines, unreliable toilets and swathes of rot and mould.   Their aspiration was to turn this ex-library building into a self-running community space that people from all parts of this very diverse community would want to come to, and maybe even start their own projects there.

"It's about trying to create a much needed community space to build community spirit." (Trustee of The Mill)

"You usually only get these centres because an organisation or institution starts them....This one has nothing to do with anything but human beings. It boils it right down to the basics. It's not self-indulgent or angry or political - it's just a good thing. It's very honest." (Local resident)

The original plan from Blackhorse Action Group was to lease one room in St James's Street library building. This had to change when their partners pulled out unexpectedly.  Faced with the possibility that the building might be lost, the residents persuaded Waltham Forest Council to give them a 15 year lease on the whole building, then took a deep breath and jumped in.

Some headline messages from the project

All of the Neighbourhood Challenge projects offered rich opportunities for learning.  We have picked out just a few of the insights from this project here below:

  • A unique and special community space has been created because people have given their time, energy and skills to make it happen.
  • The vision and drive of a core group of passionate and committed individuals has been key to The Mill's transformation.
  • A creative and innovative approach, that is completely open to, and supportive of, all possibilities has led to an explosion of community activity.
  • The Mill can't be sustained with volunteer effort alone.  Core funding to cover costs associated with running the building and managing the team of volunteers is necessary for the building to be viable.

About their approach

This project was not about giving money to a group of people so that they could provide a centre for the local community.  Instead, it was about using Neighbourhood Challenge funds to open the doors of a building that people cared about so that the community could come in and transform it and make it their own in the belief that, given the right opportunities and the right support, people would want to get involved and bring their ideas, skill and connections to the project.  Through Neighbourhood Challenge, The Mill has shown the tremendous potential of this community-led approach.  It has shown that skilled leadership combined with an open, flexible and can-do attitude are key to (1)  creating a unique, community-owned space that (2) taps into local skills and interests  and (3) creates opportunities for many people to get involved.

1.  Creating a unique, community-owned space

"What impresses me is the amount of unpaid work that people are giving. Even the chairs we are sitting on have been built by people that gave their time." (Local resident) 

"It's as if someone came along with a big pot of money and said 'there you go'. But it wasn't money - it was talent and skill." (Local resident) 

Shortly after the trustees of The Mill got the keys for the building they held a succession of open days so that members of the community could come in and see for themselves the potential of the space. They invited people to share their ideas about how the building could be used and offer their skills or time to the refurbishment task. Over 100 people turned up on the first day, offering to share skills from plumbing to DIY and gardening and from there the support grew and grew: local residents have decorated the building, made shelves, built window boxes, sewn cushions, helped to build furniture and even donated their jeans to be turned into curtains.   

As well as giving their time and skills to The Mill, local people brought their own social and professional networks which enabled the project to draw in expertise from outside of Walthamstow.  One resident's connections to RaRA - the Redundant Architects Recreation Association - brought in a team of highly skilled young volunteer architects and designers who planned and built flexible and tailored furniture and fittings from recycled materials.   Creating furniture out of old scaffolding boards, and disused materials, they helped to create a unique and versatile space.  

2. Tapping into local skills and interests

"It's the onlyplace, other than the central library, where you actually see the demographic of the borough."  (Local Councillor) 

"You just walk in and it feels like home. And once you come in, you want to get involved and you want to help to make it a success." (Local resident) 

"One of the things we are known for is innovation and riskiness.  People remember the crazy things we've done and come to us because we are not a regular venue.  We've never turned an idea away because it's too crazy." (Trustee of The Mill)

Since the official opening of The Mill in August 2011, it has hosted about a dozen local events, provided meeting rooms for around 50 groups (many of them newly established) and exhibited local art and craft work. It has an honesty library with an impressive collection of locally donated books, plus a well-equipped playroom.  It also offers an open 'living room' space for people who just want to drop in and read a paper, play a game of cards with friends or simply have a cup of tea.

The calendar of activities grew as more people got involved.   In its first six months, the Mill hosted arts and knitting classes, a computer skills workshop, a book group, cycle training, language classes, dance classes, a draught-proofing workshop, a film show and much more.   This varied programme has appealed to a wide range of people, young and old from different parts of the community.  It has brought cultural and religious groups together in one space and enabled new relationships to grow.  What is also striking is that it is local people, and not outside agencies, that are offering these activities.  Some people have set up their own group - like the lively and vocal older residents who called themselves the Recycled Coppermill Teenagers; and others have instigated regular community wide events - such as the very popular monthly community breakfast. 

3. Creating opportunities for people to get involved

All of this community-led activity raises the important question: 'why are so many people keen to get involved?' The answer to this lies partly in the open, welcoming and supportive invitation to participate.   Information boards outside tell people what is going on each day; the glassed frontage and open design of the space means that people can see everything that is happening inside; visitors are greeted with a friendly face and encouraged to look around; and the long opening hours mean that the building is accessible to people at different times of the day. 

The people who were interested in running their own group or activity have had the opportunity to talk through their ideas with others. This tailored, one to one support, was the best way of developing ideas and giving people the confidence that they need.   In some cases, meeting spaces have been made available at a reduced price to help someone get started with a new project or group. For those that want to make a regular commitment to the running of the building, there are different ways to help out from working on reception to writing stories for the website. 

People are also getting involved because they really want to.  The Mill has filled a space that was created when the old library closed.   People didn't like seeing the building empty.  Many of the residents who are now giving up their time to organise activities or help to run the building have talked about the benefits for themselves - for example, building new skills, giving them confidence or meeting new people. Others have spoken about the good feelings that come with doing something for others.

What's been challenging?

From the beginning, this has been a very ambitious project.  What started out as a project to lease and convert one room grew, almost overnight, into the transformation of an entire building.  There have been many challenges over the year, from forming a new organisation and negotiating the 15-year lease with the council, to making the building safe, secure and warm.    

These challenges have been overcome because of the drive and commitment of the trustees who have taken risks and found innovative ways to solve problems, whilst also using their connections to bring in additional skills, expertise and influence for little or no cost.  The demand this has placed on the trustees' time has been considerable and is not sustainable in the long term.   Although there is now a large pool of volunteers who help with the day to day running of the building, there is still a need for a paid worker to co-ordinate and support all the voluntary effort within The Mill. 

Despite The Mill's success at bringing together different generations and cultures, it's trustees still want to do more to reach out to young people.  They are asking young people 'what can you do for £100 and 15 hours'.  By providing them with small amounts of funding and access to meeting space at The Mill, they hope young people will be encouraged to arrange their own events and activities for their peers.

What's changed?

"There is a whole different feel to the area now.  People recognise each other from their encounters at The Mill.  Lots of people that would have walked past each other before, now know each other by name." (Trustee of The Mill)

"I feel a strong sense of identity with this neighbourhood now.  I love the way my kids know a lot of people and a lot of people know them.  The three of us have a strong sense of community. It means a lot to me." (Local resident)

Local assets have been unlocked

  • Over 50 people devoted 320 hours of unpaid time to The Mill in the last month of Neigbourhood Challenge.
  • The Mill has tapped into a vast range of local skills from decorating and carpentry through to events organising, fund-raising and website design. 

Abilities and ambitions have grown

  • Around 50 local people are volunteering at The Mill and keeping it running and thriving each week.  They are providing a friendly reception, running activities, planning and delivering events, performing vital administration, doing work on the building, updating the website, using social media and fundraising.
  • The trustees of The Mill have been on a very steep learning curve.  As well as becoming adept at building management, event organisation and community communications they have grown as local leaders (and expended a huge amount of energy and time in the process!)
  • Many of the volunteers that are contributing to the day to day running of the Mill say they now feel more confident and more willing to take on different types of responsibilities.

Creation of new networks, connections and collaborations

  • Around 25 groups are now meeting at The Mill on a regular basis, and there are new groups forming every month.
  • Several community events are hosted each month, bringing people together from different parts of the community and promoting more cross-cultural and inter-generational connections.
  • New friendships and collaborations have developed and this is prompting new ideas and initiatives.

New opportunities to influence

  • There has been a shift from an oppositional relationship with the council to one that is more collaborative, for example The mill has been approached for its view on the redevelopment of the area.
  • It has provided a welcoming, neutral venue for local consultations with decision makers.
  • It provides access to 'official channels' of influence, for example the local ward forum is now held there and one local Councillor holds regular surgeries.
  • It is a source of information about local issues for the local community.

What next?

"The future of this building is on a knife edge.  There is a lot of will in the community but there are not sufficient resources to pay all the costs associated with keeping the building open." (Trustee of The Mill)

Variously described as 'a focal point', 'a melting pot', 'home from home', 'a social good' and 'a social force', there is no doubt that The Mill now plays an important role within the local community. However as Neighbourhood Challenge comes to an end, there are insufficient funds to cover The Mill's commercial rent and fuel bills.   Securing grant funding to cover the core costs associated with running the building is now the primary concern of the Trustees.  

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