My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered legal entity
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), evidence of access to a lease for the space you are leveraging, and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions.
Yes
First Name
Stephan
Last Name
Campbell
Pronouns
He/Him
Email address
I would like to receive notifications and updates about Go London!, Ashoka, Ashoka Changemakers, and other Ashoka opportunities.
1
Are you an Ashoka Fellow?
No
Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
No
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Lead Organisation Name
London Community Service cic
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2024
Initiative Title
North London Wellbeing & Sports Hub
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
Not yet
Initiative Stage
Growth (You’ve moved past the very first activities; working towards the next level of expansion.)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Health & Fitness
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
A new community wellbeing and sports hub in Finchley that turns an unused indoor space into an inclusive area for fitness, movement, and positive activities for young people and local residents
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
Finchley has a growing number of young people and residents who face isolation, low confidence, limited access to positive activities, and very few safe, affordable spaces to stay active. Local families, young adults, and vulnerable residents have repeatedly said they want somewhere supportive to go, but most sports facilities are either too expensive, too far, or not designed for mixed-ability or mixed-age groups. Many young people also lack routine, structure, and connection, which leads to stress, boredom, and disengagement. I’m close to this issue because I grew up in this area and I understand how lack of access to safe spaces can affect your confidence, mental health, and sense of direction. Through my CIC, London Community Services, I’ve already been supporting residents with wellbeing sessions, 1:1 guidance, fitness support and community engagement. Every week I meet people who say the same thing: they need a space to move, socialise, try new things, and feel welcomed. This matters because sport and movement shouldn’t depend on income or postcode. Finchley is a diverse area with hidden pockets of disadvantage, and many people simply don’t have opportunities to be active or connect with others. A safe, inclusive space can make a real difference to their wellbeing, confidence and long-term opportunities.
Your approach: How are you/ will you addressing the problem outlined above? How does your solution unlock or reimagine access to spaces for sport and physical activity? What role do landowners, local authorities, or other decision-making stakeholders play in your approach? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
I am transforming a small indoor workshop in Finchley into a flexible wellbeing and sports space that local residents can use daily. The space will host low-barrier fitness sessions, group movement activities, community play sessions, circuit classes, wellbeing drop-ins, and youth-led activities. Everything is designed to be welcoming, affordable, and adaptable for different ages and abilities. My approach is simple: remove barriers. We provide a space people can walk into, feel comfortable in, and get active without pressure or judgement. Many residents don’t feel confident using commercial gyms or sports halls. By creating a smaller, community-led environment, we meet people where they are. The “aha” moment came when I realised how many people told me they would be active if only they had somewhere to go. I already had access to a space and equipment through my CIC — all it needed was to be reimagined into a community hub for movement and wellbeing. Local stakeholders play an important role. The landlord is supportive of the space being used for community benefit. Local authorities and community partners help refer residents who would benefit from physical activity, and we work closely with them to ensure the space stays accessible and safe. This approach reopens a space that was previously underused and turns it into something the whole community can benefit from
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
Young people and local residents are directly involved in shaping the activities we run. Before planning sessions, we hold informal conversations, surveys, and community check-ins to understand what they actually want — from boxing-style workouts, to functional fitness, to open sessions where young people can lead warm-ups or take part in designing activities. We treat participants as contributors, not just attendees. Young people help co-design session ideas, volunteer during events, set up equipment, support promotion, and give ongoing feedback so the programme stays relevant. For example, several young people told us they preferred mixed sessions where they could bring friends, so we built that into the schedule. Families requested low-intensity sessions and safe-space drop-ins — we added those too. Everything we design is rooted in community voice. This is a space built with them, not for them. Their involvement helps us understand barriers, cultural needs, and the types of movement sessions they feel comfortable joining. This co-creation approach keeps the initiative grounded in real experiences and helps us build a sustainable, community-owned hub
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in unlocking spaces for and access to physical activity and sport so far? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had , and or what impact do you envision having in the future?
This initiative unlocks a space that residents have already started using informally for wellbeing and fitness, and formalising it will massively increase the number of people we can support. We expect to engage at least 150–200 people in the first year, offering accessible sessions multiple times a week. Early informal sessions have already shown impact. People who joined fitness or wellbeing activities reported feeling more confident, more motivated, and less isolated. Parents have asked for regular sessions for their teenagers so they can be active in a safe environment. Several residents who previously avoided gyms now join small-group sessions because the space feels welcoming and non-judgemental. Over time, the initiative will deliver deeper community benefits: increased physical activity levels improved confidence and wellbeing stronger community connections safer and more positive routines for young people a local hub that encourages healthier lifestyles Our long-term ambition is to create a model that can be replicated in other underused spaces across Barnet, proving that small, localised sports hubs can have big impact.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
What makes this initiative different is the way it reimagines a small indoor space — originally a workshop — into a flexible, inclusive sports and play environment. Instead of relying on large sports centres or expensive gyms, we’re transforming an everyday local space into something the community can shape and own. We use a mixed-method approach that blends wellbeing, movement, youth voice, and community design. It’s not a traditional sports programme — it’s a space that adapts to people’s needs, offering everything from functional fitness to movement play, to wellbeing sessions, depending on what the community asks for. The innovation lies in making physical activity accessible to those who normally feel excluded from mainstream sports environments. We shift the norm by proving that meaningful, inclusive sports activities don’t require large venues or high costs. They require trust, co-design, and removing barriers. This model challenges traditional assumptions about who sports spaces are “for” and creates new opportunities for people who would otherwise be left out.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your initiative up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
We are setting the initiative up for success by having a clear operational structure, a secured indoor space, essential equipment, and established relationships with the Barnet community. The CIC is already active locally and has a track record of delivering wellbeing and community support sessions. For sustainability, we will use a hybrid model: free sessions, grant-funded programmes, low-cost community classes, and partnerships with local services who refer participants. This ensures ongoing income to support staffing, equipment, and maintenance. To scale, we plan to: expand the timetable train community volunteers to support delivery replicate the model in other unused spaces across Barnet partner with local schools, youth groups, and community organisations build a long-term referral network with Barnet Council and charities Support from this programme would accelerate development, strengthen our capacity, and position us to grow confidently over the next 12–24 months.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
Stephan Campbell – Lead Coordinator Oversees programme delivery, leads fitness and wellbeing sessions, manages partnerships, supervises young volunteers, and handles safeguarding and daily operations. Community Volunteers / Young Leaders Support session setup, co-design activities, assist with engagement, and help shape the ongoing programme based on community needs. Local Partners (Schools, Youth Groups, Barnet Organisations) Refer participants, share space needs, and collaborate on designing activities that suit their young people and community members. Landlord / Space Provider Provides the physical space and supports its use as a community activity hub.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
Month 1: Finalise space setup, purchase equipment, confirm timetable Month 2: Launch community fitness and wellbeing sessions Month 3–4: Begin youth co-designed activity sessions Month 5: Establish volunteer team and leadership roles Month 6: Community open day + progress review Month 7–12: Expand timetable, strengthen partnerships, measure impact, prepare scaling plan
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details.
PT & fitness equipment (mats, bands, weights) Cooking & basic nutrition workshop tools (portable hob, utensils, safe storage) Wellbeing equipment (chairs, soft furnishings, first-aid kit) Tech & repair tools (screens, solder tools, devices for training) CCTV system for safeguarding and security Final fixtures and fittings to complete the workshop setup Additional training courses required for delivery (I have already completed 9 courses and need to continue building my skills to run these sessions safely and professionally)
