What if … we could help tackle inequality of opportunity amongst underserved communities by creating … Green Sparks?
Green Sparks is a transformative, grassroots pilot project that will bring climate action, green skills, inclusive growth, and community empowerment.
Our aim is simple: to support residents, especially women from the Global Majority Bengali backgrounds whose voices often remain unheard, to take meaningful climate action and access opportunities in the growing green economy.
Many women we work with hold practical knowledge about making, mending, saving energy and running low-waste households – skills inherited through generations but are at risk of fading. At the same time, London faces urgent climate challenges, rising living costs and a shortage of people trained for green jobs. Green Sparks unites these elements into a scalable approach: building confidence, nurturing talent, protecting “endangered” repair and sustainability skills, and connecting residents with training, employers and pathways into climate-positive work.
The challenge we’re responding to:
Women, in particular, from global majority backgrounds face high unemployment and limited routes into green jobs or training; economic inactivity for Bangladeshi and Pakistani women is 48.1%, with unemployment as high as 17%. Yet employers urgently need candidates for retrofit, solar, EV infrastructure, circular economy and greening roles.
We also see a rapid decline in practical repair skills that once existed in every household. Many people who still hold these skills are older and they risk disappearing within a generation. Endangered skills repair is a powerful form of climate action; reducing waste, emissions and consumption, yet many residents now assume everyday items “can’t be fixed”. Online tutorials cannot replace safe, hands-on learning from trusted community members.
Across dozens of previous Sharing Space workshops, residents have consistently asked for:
- training linked to real opportunities
- practical sustainability skills that save money
- women-only or culturally sensitive spaces
- support to turn traditional skills into income or enterprise
- guidance on where to start with climate action
- a chance to feel valued, heard and connected
People have said:
“These sessions get me out of the house. I want more chances to learn about services, jobs and how to use my skills.” – Rahima
“I want more workshops using recycled materials. I’d love to start my own small business one day.” – Virdon
Here are some examples of two of our Green Sparks projects, which are currently on a pause.
Cholo Khā’i Cafe
What if … Cholo K’hai could create opportunities, build confidence, and empower local women to run their own businesses?
Food has the power to bring people together – but what if it could do even more? That’s exactly what the Sharing Spaces Food Mission was all about.
Born out of Sharing Spaces, this initiative supported local women in Somers Town to gain food hygiene qualifications, develop business and catering skills, and set up their own thriving social enterprises. From event catering to a weekly cafe, these talented women developed skills beyond cooking – they learned new skills, such as how to run a cafe, and helped build a more sustainable community-powered food economy.
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Here is the marketing copy we used when promoting the cafe:
Ever walked past the Somers Town Community Association and caught the irresistible smell of freshly made parathas, slow-simmered curries, or masala-spiced beans? That’s Cholo Khā’i Cafe – our planet-friendly, community-powered weekly pop-up, where local chefs are serving up more than just excellent food. They’re building skills, gaining confidence, and leading a movement for sustainable, community-led catering.
Cholo Khai (meaning ‘’come eat’’ in Bengali) offers a delicious, seasonal menu of vegan and vegetarian Asian bites, from stuffed parathas to spiced curry and hearty breakfasts. It’s food that nourishes both people and the planet, prepared by women who are training up in navigating a business co-operative, front-of-house service, food preparation and hygiene.
Sharing Space Eats
What if… talented local women could work together to provide delicious vegetarian food for events and businesses all around Camden?
Sharing Space Eats is a project where local cooks, mostly Bengali women, provide catering for local organisations. Improving their confidence and skills and building their livelihoods.
Background
Sharing Space Eats was a project that came from Think & Do’s Sharing Space in Somers Town, when we realised how many local people were talented chefs.
Working with local community group the Somers Town Community Association the chefs got their level 2 Food Hygiene Certificates online, and they then began preparing food orders for local businesses from their kitchens at home. The menu focused on Bengali cuisine as this was the background of so many of the chefs, with tasty snacks like Samosa, Pakoras, through to curries, biryani and much more. Cakes and sweet treats were also options to customers. Sharing Space Eats became popular with local businesses including Camden Council, Impact Hub, Troup Bywaters & Anders and many more. In the first 12 months of the project we had received 224 orders!
Sharing Space Eats reached its limit in its current form but there is now huge scope and opportunity to grow. We are therefore looking at what the priorities and objectives are for moving forward and seeking funding to dedicate more resources to improving processes and maximising the opportunities.
Opportunities
- Increasing the income for local chefs – creating a secure livelihood
- Providing training, that gives more opportunities for transferable skills to be used in employment elsewhere
- Building confidence of the chefs and the team
- Increasing the amount of vegetarian meals eaten in the borough – having a positive impact on the planet
- Education around why vegetarian food is important in tackling the climate and ecological emergencies
- Improving local community resilience through building a network of people that works together
- Partnering with other organisations