Revealing the Value of Community and Culture in Church Street
Mapping Social Value to Empower Community-Led Regeneration in Church Street
Client
Westminster City Council
Date
2013 - 2016
Westminster, London
Client
Westminster City Council tasked AKOU with helping them navigate the complex cultural and social landscape of Church Street—a diverse neighborhood undergoing a 20-year regeneration process.
The Challenge
Church Street, Westminster’s most deprived ward, is home to a vibrant mix of residents, businesses, and cultural organizations. The Council needed to capture data on the area’s social value to inform regeneration plans while fostering trust and collaboration with the community.
Akou’s Impact
AKOU co-designed a digital platform to map the social impact of over 150 local organizations, including arts, cultural, community, and business groups. This tool visualized connections, demonstrated local impact, and provided a shared resource for the community and council to better understand Church Street’s ecosystem.
Key Outcomes
- Secured £250,000 in micro-grants for arts and culture activities based on AKOU’s data
- Engaged 720+ local users with the platform
- Influenced the Neighbourhood Plan and Master Plan using platform insights
- Fostered trust and collaboration between the Council and community
End Result
By revealing the hidden value of Church Street’s cultural and social networks, AKOU helped create a transparent foundation for regeneration, benefiting both the council and local community.
