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
Chanel
Last Name
christie-carter
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.
N/a
Lead Organisation Name
The Social Supermarket Initiative (SSI)
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2025
Initiative Title
SSI Active: Family Physical Activity for Stronger Communities
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
https://www.thesocialsupermarketinitiative.com/
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
SSI Active is a family-centered physical activity program delivered through a community-school partnership. It creates regular, accessible opportunities for families to be active together, supporting child development, strengthening family ties, and promoting well-being. By transforming trusted school and community spaces into safe, shared environments, SSI Active enables families to move, connect, and grow together.
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?
Families in Southwark face significant barriers to regular physical movement. Financial pressures, limited access to safe and welcoming spaces, and a lack of opportunities for parents and children to take part together reduce overall levels of movement and well-being. Time constraints, including work and household responsibilities, further limit families' ability to engage in consistent physical routines. Children in households with fewer resources are disproportionately affected, resulting in less participation in physical activity, reduced self-confidence, and fewer opportunities for positive social interaction. Regular movement plays a vital role in a child's development as it supports concentration, emotional regulation, memory, and behaviour, which directly influence engagement and performance in school and at home, while also supporting well-being, emotional balance and stronger, parent-child relationships. SSI Active addresses this gap by creating accessible, inclusive, and family-centered opportunities for physical activity within trusted school and community spaces. By enabling families to engage together , the program strengthens wellbeing, confidence, and stability, helping children develop healthier routines, stronger relationships, and improved outcomes both in school and at home.
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?
SSI Active transforms school spaces —including playgrounds, halls, and outdoor areas— into welcoming environments where families can engage in regular physical activity together. SSI's mission is to create inclusive opportunities for families to build healthier, stronger lives through shared movement and connection. Weekly sessions are inclusive, non-competitive, and accessible to all ages and abilities. Activities include cooperative games, circuits, and outdoor challenges that foster teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and social skills. By interacting with others through shared experiences, families strengthen bonds both at home and in the wider community. We will implement a Parent Ambassador program that trains local parents to support delivery, encourage participation, and provide visible community leadership. Schools provide trusted spaces, connect families, and ensure safe access outside normal school hours. SSI provides program design, structured training, delivery expertise, and oversight for safeguarding. Our ''aha moment'' came during informal school-based research with parents. Many wanted to be active with their children but faced childcare challenges, financial pressures, and safety concerns in outdoor spaces after dark. We realised that the school hall - trusted, accessible, and nearby - was ideal for hosting family activity sessions. At a time when physical activity and community well-being are gaining greater attention, SSI Active meets this demand by removing barriers and providing a sustainable, locally grounded model that strengthens well-being, family relationships, and community ties.
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?
SSI Active is co-designed and guided by the families and children it serves. 1. Parent Ambassadors: help shape session, recruitment strategies, and messaging. They are trained to co-facilitate activities, lead warm-ups, and support community outreach, providing visible leadership and building trust. 2. Children: contribute by suggesting games, themes, and activities, which are incorporated into monthly sessions. Their input ensures sessions are engaging, age-appropriate, and fun, fostering confidence and social skills both in school and at home. 3. Ongoing community input is gathered through informal conversations, focus groups, and surveys, enabling the program to respond effectively to local needs and preferences. By placing families and children at the centre of planning and delivery, SSI Active ensures that sessions are relevant, accessible, and rooted in the community's lived experience. This approach not only increases participation but also strengthens engagement, creates shared experiences, and fosters a sense of responsibility for well-being — helping families build stronger relationships and social connections that extend beyond the program.
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?
SSI Active will increase access to physical activity for families facing the greatest barriers, including financial pressures, limited time, and restricted opportunities to participate together. In the first year, we aim to: 1. Deliver weekly sessions across partner schools for 60-100 children and their parents 2. Train 10-15 Parent Ambassadors to lead and support sessions 3. Host quarterly community events that showcase family participation and strengthen local connections Expected outcomes within the first 4-6 weeks include: 1. Families moving from inactive to regularly active routines, starting with small, achievable activities agreed with participants and gradually building up to longer, more challenging sessions 2. Increased weekly participation in physical activity for both children and parents 3. Increase in confidence, wellbeing, and social connections at home and in the wider community 4. Improved parent-child relationships through shared experiences 5. Enhanced concentration, behaviour regulation, and engagement in school Long-term impact includes: 1. Sustained family activity habits embedded into daily routines 2. Stronger, deeper ties between families and schools 3. A scalable model for other communities facing similar barriers, providing a tested framework for family engagement, physical activity, and community solidarity. By measuring both participation numbers and qualitative feedback, SSI Active will demonstrate rapid, meaningful change and provide evidence of impact that is both significant and replicable.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
SSI Active takes a family-centred approach that engages parents and children in a shared program of activity and play, removing structural barriers caused by financial pressures, limited opportunities, and lack of time. We transform school and community spaces by creating opportunities for parents to engage on school grounds and in nearby community areas, overcoming the exclusion they often feel once the bell rings. SSI Active transforms these spaces into welcoming community hubs where the whole family can be active. Parent Ambassadors are central to the program, building local leadership, increasing trust, and ensuring long-term sustainability. This approach shifts physical activity from an individual responsibility to a collective, community-driven movement, embedded in families' weekly routine and supported by familiar, trusted spaces.
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 ensure sustainability and readiness for growth, we are embedding: 1. Local leadership via Parent Ambassadors, with training, support, and shared responsibilities to prevent burnout 2. Integration with school communities, securing spaces in advance and planning flexible schedules to reduce the risk of cancellations 3. Documented frameworks and training materials, so future replication in other schools or boroughs is straightforward 4. Contingency planning for weather or space challenges, including indoor alternatives and adaptable scheduling This approach ensures SSI Active is resilient, adaptable, and built for scaling. We plan to pilot in partner schools in Southwark, gather feedback to refine delivery, and then expand to additional schools and neighbouring boroughs.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
SSI: Design and coordinate the program, oversee safeguarding, provide training, manage delivery, and monitor evaluation. Partner Schools: provide indoor and outdoor spaces, communicate with families, and ensure safe access. Parent Ambassadors: Facilitate sessions, encourage participation, give feedback, and support continuity of delivery. Community Partners: Assist with outreach, events, and wider community engagement.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
Month 1-3: Confirm school partnerships, recruit Parent Ambassadors, and pilot sessions using both indoor and outdoor spaces. Month 4-9: Deliver weekly sessions across indoor and outdoor areas, provide ambassador training, and host quarterly community events. Months 10-12: Evaluate impact, strengthen partnerships, and prepare for scale.
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.
Funding will cover costs that enable SSI staff and Parent Ambassadors to participate in the capacity-building program, with allocations directly supporting training, organisational development, and engagement in line with grant requirements. 1. Staff coordination/back-fill (£3,500): Covers staff time so weekly sessions continue without disruption while attending training, ensuring consistent program delivery. 2. Parent Ambassador training/back-fill (£2,500): Funds training, materials, and time for ambassadors to develop leadership skills and support delivery. 3. Transport and refreshment (£2,000): Enables families to participate safely and fully during the training period, ensuring accessibility. 4. Community events (£2,000): support events that reinforce engagement, maintain visibility, and strengthen connections between families and the program while staff participate in training. All funding is allocated to support participation in the capacity-building program, staff and ambassador development, and inclusive family access, ensuring SSI Active runs smoothly and Ambassadors and staff can fully engage with the program.
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Community Southwark dashboard
