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
Niv
Last Name
Hachlili
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
Pulse & Pickle CIC
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2024
Initiative Title
The Inside-Outside Project: Building holistic community infrastructure by connecting indoor and outdoor play, skill-sharing, nourishment, and inclusive support.
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
https://www.instagram.com/pulseandpickle/
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?
Human Rights & Equality
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
The Inside–Outside Project brings people together through indoor and outdoor play, practical skill-sharing, healthy food knowledge, and community support.
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 migrant, working-class and marginalised communities lack safe, welcoming spaces where they can gather, learn practical skills, move their bodies, and access informal support without cost or judgement. Public play spaces are often designed without them in mind, and community centres are increasingly underfunded, inaccessible, or disconnected from everyday life. As a result, people experience isolation, reduced confidence, limited access to healthy food knowledge, and fewer opportunities to build hands-on skills. Young people, women, trans and non-binary people in particular are often excluded from skate culture, DIY construction spaces, and informal networks where practical knowledge is shared. At the same time, mental wellbeing struggles are rising, especially among migrants navigating language barriers, insecure work, and limited support systems. We are part of this community. Pulse & Pickle was built by migrants, queer and grassroots organisers who have experienced these gaps first-hand: the lack of affordable space, representation, and the expectation to rely on unpaid labour to create change. We operate from within those physical and mental boundaries, not outside them. The problem we are addressing is not just the absence of a skate ramp or workshop programme. It is the absence of connected, everyday spaces where play, food, skill-sharing and peer support exist together. By activating both the inside of our venue and the outdoor space around it, we respond directly to what our community has asked for: a place to move, learn, build, eat, and support one another.
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?
Our approach builds on Pulse & Pickle’s unique indoor and outdoor spaces to create safe, inclusive areas for play, skill-sharing, and wellbeing. At the back of our property, a large bus parking area connects directly to our back room, and a small public garden next to the venue is currently under council-led regeneration and will be completed in the coming months. The arches of the overground trainline provide further potential for modular skate features. The council’s St James Quarter regeneration project opens opportunities for public access and community-led programming. We engaged early with council project managers, proposing a modular skate park, green roof, and compost initiatives. Their support confirmed our vision could integrate with broader regeneration plans. A mural on our wall, to be completed this month, and our indoor workshops complement the outdoor activities, connecting learning and play. Our “aha” moment came when I saw skater girls and non-binary young people on a neighboring rooftop, navigating unsafe fire escape stairs. They told me they had nowhere safe to skate. That moment crystallized our goal: to create inclusive, participatory spaces where people can play, learn, and connect safely, reimagining access to sport and activity for underrepresented communities.
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?
Our initiative engages young people and community members as co-creators of the space, activities, and events. They help design and build modular skate features, learn practical construction and safety skills, and shape play, skill-sharing, and wellbeing sessions. Beyond sport, participants co-produce workshops, evening gatherings, music events, and other creative activities, acting as organisers, performers, or facilitators. This ensures the project reflects their interests and needs while empowering them to take ownership of the space. The community also contributes to planning and documenting the project, sharing knowledge and stories that feed into our local archive. By giving participants a central role in decision-making, facilitation, and creative leadership, the initiative fosters agency, connection, and inclusive engagement across the neighbourhood.
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?
While the Inside-Outside Project is still in the idea phase, its potential impact is grounded in the work Pulse & Pickle has already delivered as a thriving community hub. In the past year alone, thousands of people have visited our space, participating in communal dinners, music events, film screenings, workshops, and enjoying local, organic, vegan food. The space also provides free, safe access to toilets, warm spaces, and a welcoming environment for all, including marginalised and migrant communities. Through this initiative, we aim to extend that impact into physical activity and sport by creating safe, accessible indoor and outdoor play and skate spaces that are co-designed and led by community members. Young people and marginalised groups will gain opportunities to learn practical construction and skate skills, co-organise events, and participate in creative workshops, building confidence and agency. Concrete outputs include completed skate features, a series of participatory workshops and gatherings, and ongoing co-created documentation of skills and learning. Over time, this approach will bring knowledge sharing (non competitive) approaches to sport, and foster confidence, agency, and lasting connections in the community. We envision a ripple effect: activating underused spaces, inspiring participants to take ownership, and embedding inclusive, participatory approaches to sport, learning, and wellbeing across the local area.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Our project is original because it combines an adaptable, modular approach to play and sport with a genuinely inclusive, co-creative model. Rather than a fixed skate park or conventional sports facility, the modular features can be moved, stored, or positioned indoors or outdoors, accommodating skateboards, roller skates, wheelchairs, and other forms of movement. This flexibility allows participants to experiment, adapt, and shape the space according to their needs, creating a truly accessible environment for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Collaboration lies at the heart of our approach. Participants are not just attendees but co-creators: they help design and build obstacles, organise workshops, curate events, and share knowledge. Our non-hierarchical, co-learning model encourages skill-sharing, peer mentoring, and collective problem-solving, breaking from traditional teacher-led formats and embedding agency within the community. By combining adaptable design, inclusivity, and shared ownership, the project tackles the root problem of limited, exclusive access to physical activity spaces. It shifts norms around who can lead, participate, and shape recreational environments, fostering lasting engagement, confidence, and community cohesion.
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?
To sustain and scale the project, we are designing modular skate and play features that can be stored, adapted, or moved between indoor and outdoor spaces. This flexibility reduces dependence on fixed infrastructure, lowers costs, and allows activities to continue even if space availability changes. The modular design also allows the project to expand: more features can be added over time, adapted for different age groups or abilities, or replicated in other community spaces. We are actively building partnerships with local authorities, landowners, and community organisations to secure access to safe, accessible spaces for both workshops and informal play. Our skate partner, an experienced roller skater and coach who has planned, funded, and built skate parks across London, provides technical expertise and guidance for inclusive design and skill-building. Currently, we are bringing together stakeholders and community members to co-imagine and plan the space as a shared, feasible environment for sport, creative workshops, and wellbeing activities. All activities, skills, and knowledge will be documented in a shared archive, creating a resource that can track impact, inform future iterations, and provide a replicable model for other communities. By combining modular design, partnerships, and community co-creation, the initiative can scale both in reach and depth, supporting larger numbers of participants while embedding inclusive, participatory approaches to sport and play over the long term.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
Pulse & Pickle Team Our core team brings extensive experience in community organising, inclusive programming, and hands-on project delivery. We have already created and operate the space envisioned for this initiative, supporting and accommodating workshops, events, communal dinners, and the local food co-op. For this project, we will curate and deliver inclusive workshops and creative sessions, manage the logistics of the modular skate and play features, oversee the space, and facilitate community engagement. Our team also brings expertise in sustainable food, knowledge-sharing, and building participatory activities that foster connection, agency, and wellbeing. Skating Partner Our skating partner is an experienced roller skater and coach who has planned, fundraised for, designed, and built skate parks across London, most recently with Downside DIY CIC. She will lead the design and building of skate and play features, provide technical guidance for safe and inclusive construction, and co-facilitate workshops on skate skills and obstacle use. With deep links to communities underrepresented in wheeled sports, including Trans Skaters, Melanin Skate Gals & Pals, wheelchair users, and youth networks, she will ensure our sessions are inclusive, and her expertise in co-creation and grassroots culture will inform the project’s participatory model. Architect Partners Our architect partners will provide guidance on spatial design and feasibility, ensuring the project maximises access, safety, and adaptability of the space. They bring experience supporting groups committed to spatial justice, including communities affected by the financialisation of land and property. Their input will help integrate modular features, co-designed workshops, and public engagement strategies in ways that are safe, practical, and replicable for other communities.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
Upcoming Milestones If we are selected as a finalist, our initiative will follow a clear sequence of activities and milestones to achieve our intended outcomes: March - May 2026: Participation in the finalist capacity-building programme. During this time, we will attend workshops, co-design sessions, and planning meetings to refine the initiative, map the space, and engage community stakeholders. Summer 2026: Grant winners announced (3–6 initiatives). Confirmation of funding will allow the project to move from planning to implementation. August - September 2026: Allocation of funds and procurement of materials, tools, and modular skate/play features. Initial preparations of indoor and outdoor spaces, including storage and safety adaptations. October 2026 - January 2027: Full-scale implementation of the initiative: Building and testing modular skate and play features. Facilitating inclusive co-creation workshops, skill-sharing, and community events. Running targeted sessions for underrepresented groups and different abilities. Documenting all activities, designs, and community learning in a shared archive for sustainability and replication. Ongoing: Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting outputs and impact to ensure the model is scalable and adaptable for future initiatives.
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.
If selected as a finalist, the £10,000 support funding would be used to cover costs directly connected to project development, in line with the programme’s T&Cs: External expertise / consultancy services: £5,000 to bring in specialists to support the technical design, modular skate and play features, and inclusive facilitation planning. Materials and tools: £2,000 for prototyping modular skate/play elements, including wood, hardware, safety equipment, and storage solutions. Venue costs / hosting: £2,000 to cover our back-room and outdoor spaces for all workshops, planning meetings, and community events during the 8-week development phase. Monitoring and documentation: £1,000 to capture knowledge, record workshop outputs, and develop a shared archive to inform the full-scale project. While we can operate within these restrictions, we want to note that excluding salaries places a significant strain on community-led projects like ours. Our team brings professional expertise in community organising, workshop delivery, and sustainable project management. Without support for staff time, the financial burden falls entirely on us, limiting our capacity to fully engage with the programme. Supporting the people delivering the project is essential to its success and sustainability.
