31/01/2026
Please vote, voting ends 8th February
Charlton Outdoor Neurodivergent Community Space
Problem statement
Neurodivergent families in Charlton and wider Greenwich face severe isolation and exclusion from community life, with profound impacts on mental health, wellbeing, and family relationships. These families experience systematic barriers preventing participation in activities that other residents take for granted, creating a hidden community crisis of loneliness and marginalisation.
Our community research conducted in June 2025 with 50 Greenwich families revealed the devastating scale of this exclusion. Half of neurodivergent families rarely or never access affirming community spaces, with only 6% accessing such spaces daily.
Solution
We will create a permanent outdoor neurodivergent-affirming community space at Springfield Grove, Charlton (SE7), providing year-round access to nature-based activities, sensory regulation support, and inclusive community connection. This capital investment will build lasting infrastructure removing the barriers that currently exclude neurodivergent families from community life.
Our solution addresses root causes rather than symptoms. Instead of asking neurodivergent individuals to adapt to environments designed without them, we're creating space intentionally designed for their needs. Instead of one-off events requiring families to travel and monitor schedules, we're providing permanent lo
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Charlton Community Champions Consortium is uniquely positioned to deliver this project through our authentic equity-led approach, proven track record creating inclusive provision, established partnerships, and deep roots in Charlton's diverse communities. Unlike organisations delivering services to communities, we are led by the communities we serve, ensuring this space genuinely meets needs rather than assumptions.
Our equity-led structure places lived experience at the heart of decision-making. Our Chair, Rowan Pubble, is a neurodivergent parent with two neurodivergant children, bringing direct understanding of navigating isolation, accessing community activities
