Building a legacy: how Chelsea’s Big Local is here to stay

Shahee Islam is the chair of World’s End and Lots Road Big Local in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. As they became the 100th of 150 areas to complete the Big Local programme, Shahee reflected on the last 10 years and shares how those involved plan to continue improving their diverse community.

“The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is known for its fabulous houses and being home to famous actors. There are people living very comfortably and then, across the road, there’s the World’s End council estate, where people struggle to find jobs and make ends meet. 

“The [World’s End] estate is made up of seven towers with connecting walkways, a sheltered housing unit and an over 50s facility. Our Big Local area also includes Lots Road, which is a mix of residential and commercial properties. 

“I was born and raised in Chelsea, living on the estate, so I’ve seen first-hand the difference the programme has made. The impact has been tremendous and we’ve created life-changing opportunities for people.” 

“Ten years ago, at the beginning of the Big Local programme, it was like the community was in silo mode. People would take their kids to school and back, but barely interact. They’d stay in their own circles and there wasn’t any collaboration. 

“Engagement was the biggest challenge we faced. Residents weren’t that receptive when we first asked them what they wanted us to focus on, thinking it was another box-ticking exercise. But over time, we broke down those barriers. Through surveys and speaking to residents face-to-face, we uncovered people’s ideas for making the area a better place to live. 

“We started in just one room that could only fit eight people. Now we’re in bigger premises with a room for events that holds 10–15 people. Being right in the centre of the community, across the road from the school and council offices, has been vital. Even if people don’t engage directly, they know we’re here.” 

“After the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rise in anti-social behaviour. We wanted to redirect children and young people’s time and energy into something productive. 

“One of our first initiatives was a free football club. It started as one session a week but became so popular, it’s now three, including a girls’ session. The club has 35 registered players, with the sessions providing quality coaching and competition that boosts young people’s confidence and creates a sense of belonging. 

“We also set up boxing classes for eight- to 16-year-olds. Initially, it was one instructor, now he has an assistant because of the demand. Each week, up to 22 children come along, building strong bonds and learning new skills. 

“We’ve hosted DJ sessions with a professional DJ, where around 10 children learned to create and record music. The children have no fear factor and want to try everything. We love giving them the opportunity to do so. 

“A local teacher has run arts and crafts sessions for five years, regularly giving around 10 children each session the chance to try new things and build their confidence. We also teamed up with a charity called weSTART, supporting 14 children to construct and paint a large butterfly sculpture now on display in our plaza. The children felt a huge sense of achievement working on something from scratch and took pride in what they’d created.” 

“Older people became even more isolated post-COVID-19, often falling through the cracks. Loneliness can lead to depression, so we’ve worked hard to identify isolated residents and get them out and about. 

“The Royal Hospital Chelsea has become a great ally. It’s home to nearly 300 Chelsea pensioners who’ve served in the army. They visit our hub and bond with local residents through events like gardening sessions and tabletop sales. We regularly attend their events, creating opportunities to share stories and build friendships. 

“We also teamed up with OpenAge, a charity promoting active living for older people. They’ve provided classes in essential digital skills. Over 10 weeks, residents learn to use tablets, email, stay safe online and navigate services like online banking. With 10–15 attendees per session, bringing these services to people’s doorsteps makes engagement far more likely.” 

“We’ve supported older people to become more confident, build friendships and feel able to ask for help when they need it. For example, my mum, who speaks English as a second language, rarely left the house after the COVID-19 pandemic, except for essentials. She started attending our exercise classes and now she’s got a whole new social circle. A neighbour comes to knock on our door so they can go together.”

“Supporting people to find work has been a big part of what we do, because we believe that having a job can be transformative. We recognise that many people face barriers, including a lack of relevant skills, financial constraints and limited access to opportunities. Our free courses aim to address these challenges. 

“Our training offer has included courses in beauty, food safety, childcare and security. People only pay a refundable deposit, removing a significant financial hurdle. The security course has been highly effective, with graduates securing employment afterwards. We’re gathering more data on job placements and the long-term impact of this training. 

“We’re also connecting residents with potential employers. We’ve hosted two successful job fairs, creating a valuable bridge between job seekers and local businesses. Council staff use our hub once a month to provide guidance to people on employment opportunities. The level of engagement from residents has been remarkable.” 

“We’ve built relationships with all the local religious groups and worked with both the local church and mosque. During Ramadan, we hosted a wellbeing session with an NHS nutritionist who explained what happens to the body during fasting, the side effects and how to take care of yourself. It brought 10 people together to better understand their bodies and wellbeing. 

“Building these bridges across communities has been a highlight. People see us as a friend, not a profit-driven organisation. A small interaction, like helping someone apply for a job, can go a long way. That positive impact is felt across the whole community. 

“What I love about Big Local, is that we work with people who otherwise might have been ignored. For example, we’ve teamed up with Chelsea Theatre and the charity Response on a health and wellbeing initiative supporting people experiencing homelessness or those in temporary accommodation. We offer weekly fitness sessions, and after these, participants receive a voucher for a three-course lunch at Chelsea Theatre. They can access showers, toiletries and holistic therapy. We’ve had six people attend so far and without this project, many would continue to go unnoticed.” 

“Through Big Local, I’ve met so many amazing people and feel far more connected to my community. When you’re young, you tend to socialise where you study or work, not with the people on your doorstep. Through Big Local, I’ve developed great friendships right here. 

“I’m so glad I was part of it. I’ve been surprised by how passionate residents are. Even when they hit barriers, they find ways to make things happen. 

“We’re excited to be the 100th Big Local to complete in July, then we’ll become Chelsea Big Local, our new charity, in September 2025. We wanted to keep the Big Local name because it’s so well-known and reflects a continuation of our work. The charity is essential to our legacy. Without it, there would be gaps in support that would go unaddressed. 

“We’ve worked hard to set up the charity, making sure we meet all legal requirements, with robust governance, safeguarding and health and safety policies. We’ve had helpful support from Local Trust to bridge any gaps in our knowledge. 

“The great thing is, we don’t need to go back to the drawing board. We know what works. We might not have employees at the start, it’ll likely be the trustees delivering the work voluntarily. But over time, we’ll grow, bringing in staff to run sessions.” 

“I’m proud of the awareness Big Local has in the community. Even at the local supermarket, everyone knows what Big Local is. Collaborating with other organisations, like the council, Salvation Army and Royal Hospital Chelsea has helped us deliver so much more. 

“My hope is that the young people who’ve joined our boxing or arts and crafts classes will grow up wanting to give back. Our legacy is knowing that our work will continue, even when we’ve moved on. And that’s my mission: to make sure this continues long after I’m gone.”