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 UK entity and has a London-based address.
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
Donna
Last Name
John
Pronouns
She/Her
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
IGNITE YOUTH
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2001
Initiative Title
Court 2 Community
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
www.igniteyouth.org.uk (website) igniteyouthharrow (Instagram)
Initiative Stage
Idea (You have a solid concept and are hoping to get started in the future)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Children & Youth
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
A youth-led community project to transform a local basketball cage into a vibrant, inclusive, integrated multi-use sports and movement space, where children and young people can play, connect and thrive!
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?
Many young people lack access to safe, welcoming and flexible outdoor spaces where they can be active, socialise, meet with trusted adults and build positive community connections. The existing basketball cage is under used with clear signs of wear and tear. It is unpopular with girls. Its limited to a single sport, which means it doesn't meet the wider needs of the community. This contributes to low physical activity levels, fewer constructive places for young people to spend time, and missed opportunities for community cohesion. The primary beneficiaries are local young people (from the South Harrow) area, who will gain a multi-use space for sport, recreation and social activities. Wider benefits extend to families, schools and residents of the estate who will be able to use the space for fitness sessions and community events. The project is youth-led, the young people live, study or spend their time in the neighbourhood and directly experience the lack of quality, affordable recreational spaces. We have existing relationships with local residents, schools and other community organisations and we will actively involve them in co-designing the space through consultations. This close, on-the-ground connection ensures the project responds to real needs and has strong community ownership and long-term sustainability.
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?
Rather than focusing on a single sport, the space will be redesigned to support activities that reflect how young people actually want to move. The redesigned space will include a marked netball area to create a welcoming and visible place for girls and young women to play, addressing current gender imbalances in outdoor sport provision A dedicated cycle track/path will encourage young people to ride more often, build confidence on bikes and choose active travel, especially for those who may not engage with traditional team sports. We will install a new overhead cover to provide shade and weather protection, making the space safer and more comfortable to use as UK temperatures rise and during light rain. This will extend the usable hours and seasons of the space, particular for younger children, carers and those sensitive to heat. The landowner is Home Group, they will work collaboratively with Ignite Youth to enable the transformation of the space, including granting permission for redesign and upgrade and supporting the long-term positive use of the site. Their involvement helps ensure the project is feasible, sustainable and aligned with wider plans for the estate, while reinforcing shared ownership and accountability of the space. Our 'Aha' moment came during an Ignite event held in the Summer of 2024. While the event was aimed at users of our services, it unexpectedly attracted many children and young people from the estate. The basketball cage became a natural focal point, with children participating in organised games such as tug o war and inclusive ball games with youth workers. What stood out was how quickly the space came alive when activities were broadened beyond basketball, and when young people felt invited and supported to take part.
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?
From the outset, the initiative has been shaped by local young people. Ignite Youth has heard from many on what their needs are in terms of increasing their access to sport and movement and how they think we can best utilise the cage. Engagement began through informal conversations, observations and hands-on activities during estate sessions, where young people shared their ideas about the space. Following this, we intend to create opportunities for young people to influence the design through focus groups and workshops with youth workers, looking at things such as rules for the shared space.
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?
Although the basketball cage already exists on the estate, and is an extension of the Beacon Community Centre, which serves hundreds of local children and families each year, it is currently under utilised. It only caters to a narrow range of users and activities, and stands in silo from the larger centre and Ignite run youth space. This project unlocks the potential of an existing space by transforming it into a welcoming, flexible outdoor sports hub that reflects the interests of local young people. By broadening the range of activities on offer, such as cycling, netball, informal games and free play; we are able to remove common barriers to participation. We envisage, increasing interest in cycling amongst young people and seeing more girls participating in sports. Ignite is only able to use it if the weather permits. By implementing these changes we could double user numbers, almost immediately. The current open access youth sessions on the estate could confidently incorporate the space and design it into their services, attracting more young people with a more consistent offer.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
A key innovation is the creation of an adaptable court that supports netball alongside basketball, directly addressing the lack of provision for girls in the area. Outdoor sports spaces are still overwhelmingly designed by men, for men. By intentionally designing for girls first, rather than adding them as an afterthought, we are actively changing the norms around gender, ownership and visibility in public space. The project also introduces an integrated cycle path. This reframes physical activity as everyday movement rather than competition, making it more accessible to young people who may not engage with traditional sport but enjoy being outdoors. Crucially, this redesigned space will enable local open-access youth sessions to extend safely into outdoor activities. Current drop-in sessions regularly attract more young people than the indoor youth centre can comfortably accommodate, limiting the type of activities that can be offered. By unlocking high-quality outdoor space, youth workers will be able to run more inclusive, varied and responsive sessions, reducing overcrowding indoors while giving young people more freedom, choice and ownership of how they spend their time.
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?
This initiative will be embedded into existing provision, trusted partnerships and long-term community use, rather than treating it as a standalone project. The redesigned outdoor space will be fully integrated into our open-access youth sessions, enabling youth workers to deliver structured and informal outdoor activities as part of regular provision. This ensures the space is used consistently, responsibly and safely, with clear ownership and ongoing supervision. Operational sustainability is strengthened through shared use and partnership working. The space is already used by a local nursery, and the improvements will allow younger children to benefit from the area more regularly. By making the space more adaptable and weather-resilient, nursery sessions will no longer be cut short when conditions change, maximising use throughout the year and embedding the space as a valued early years resource. We are also building on our strong existing relationship with Harrow Cycle Hub to sustain and grow the cycling element of the project. In the short term, the cycle path and bays will support everyday cycling during youth sessions. Looking ahead, we plan to introduce local guided rides as part of our summer activities programme, giving young people the confidence, skills and local knowledge to cycle safely in their neighbourhood. This partnership brings expertise, volunteers and progression routes, ensuring cycling remains a core, supported activity rather than a one-off addition. In terms of scaling impact, our next step is to extend the model rather than replicate infrastructure. The learning from this project, co-design with girls, multi-use outdoor programming, and partnerships with cycling and early years providers, will be documented and shared locally.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
This initiative is built on a shared delivery model between Ignite Youth and Home Group, combining strategic oversight, community insight and operational delivery; to ensure the project is well-designed, well-used and sustainable. Importantly, Ignite Youth and Home Group have an established relationship spanning nearly 20 years, having previously collaborated on the regeneration of Rayners Lane Estate. This long-standing partnership provides a strong foundation of trust, shared learning, and proven delivery experience. Strategic Leadership and Partnership Development The CEO of Ignite Youth (Donna John) and the Regeneration Manager at Home Group (Richard Glaister) will jointly lead the strategic development of the project. Together, they will set the vision, agree priorities and ensure the project aligns with both youth work outcomes and wider estate regeneration objectives. They will also be responsible for developing and maintaining local partnerships, engaging key stakeholders and building community-wide support to ensure the space is valued, respected and actively used. Delivery of Youth Activities and Programming Ignite Youth’s delivery team will be led by our Senior Youth Worker (to be appointed in April 2026), who will oversee all movement, sports and outdoor sessions delivered in the space. This includes open-access youth sessions, girls-only fitness activities, cycling-based sessions and seasonal programmes. The Senior Youth Worker will ensure activities are inclusive, safe and responsive to young people’s needs, and that the space is used consistently and effectively as part of core provision. Community Insight, Co-Design and Day-to-Day Use The Community Relationship Manager for the estate (Hayley Scarlett) will work closely alongside Ignite Youth’s Operations Manager (Abdul Ahmed) to lead on research, development and co-design. This partnership will be responsible for gathering insight from young people, girls’ groups and other local users, and translating this into practical decisions about how the space is laid out and managed on a day-to-day basis. Their role ensures the space remains rooted in lived experience and continues to evolve in response to community needs. Site Management and Capital Works As landowner, Home Group will hold responsibility for all building and renovation works. This includes overseeing contractors, ensuring works meet safety and quality standards, and coordinating timelines to minimise disruption to residents and existing provision. This clear ownership provides confidence in the delivery of the physical elements of the project.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
Project Start: Mid-July 2026 Target Launch: April 2027 Phase 1: Mobilisation, Design and Permissions (July – September 2026) • Site survey and condition assessment • Young people consultation and design input • Finalisation of layout and cost plan • Landowner consent and planning approvals (if required) • Risk assessment and safeguarding planning Phase 2: Procurement and Contractor Appointment (September – November 2026) • Development of detailed contractor specifications • Competitive quotation process (minimum three quotes per package) • Contractor selection and contract agreements • Confirmation of construction schedule Phase 3: Pre-Construction Preparation (December 2026) • Ordering of materials (including canopy fabrication) • Site safety planning and mobilisation arrangements • Community communication regarding temporary closure Phase 4: Construction and Installation (January – March 2027) • Surface repairs and preparation works • Installation of cycle path and court markings • Canopy foundation works and structural installation • Safety inspections and compliance certification • Installation of signage and usage guidelines Phase 5: Soft Activation and Spring Launch (March – April 2027) • Youth worker rota and programme scheduling • Trial activity sessions and operational testing • Community launch event (April 2027) • Full programme delivery begins
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.
The costs associated with the eight-week capacity-building element of this application are outlined below: 5.5 hours per week over eight weeks. This allocation includes: 2 hours per week to cover staffing costs for mandatory attendance requirements. 3.5 hours per week dedicated to follow-up partnership meetings to ensure that learning is captured, reflected upon and embedded into the project. 44 hours x £30 p/h (for both Donna John and Richard Glaister) Total requested: £2,640
