We are a community-led organisation with a purpose to secure buildings and spaces for the community for the long-term
The HWFI CDT aims to preserve the rich cultural life of Hackney Wick and Fish Island by securing buildings for it to flourish in the long term.
We are committed to working together with the community, landlords, public authorities and developers to ensure that the identity and social fabric of the Hackney Wick and Fish Island community is retained, enterprise is supported and change benefits local people.
Between us we support a critical local eco-system of cultural and community activities that provide enterprise, jobs and skills opportunities for local enterprise and residents.
We have prioritised securing ownership of, or long-term leases on, current and future community and cultural assets to be held on behalf of the community by the CDT ensuring that they are inclusive of, and relevant to, our neighbourhood.
We have recently aligned with the Creative Land Trust (CLT), a new organisation that secures commercial property in inner London to provide affordable workspace for the creative industries. We are looking to develop more partnerships like this to help us achieve our purpose.
Our track record
A powerful movement is growing in Hackney Wick and Fish Island
Our mission for 2024 is clear: catalyse systems change to transition to a circular economy. We will launch bold initiatives like The Loop - a first-of-its-kind 10,000 sqft hub tailored to the needs of sustainable enterprises. This will nurture the local circular economy, provide engaging climate solutions for residents, and showcase community-driven innovation.
We are banding together to create a sustainable future and lead the charge against the climate crisis. The stakes could not be higher as we face existential threats, but by working collectively we can build the equitable, regenerative neighbourhood we know is possible.
This year we will leverage the power of collaboration, working across sectors to align values and resources. We're collaborating with the London Legacy Development Corporation's SHIFT team on multiple fronts through their Future Industries Demonstrator to drive local climate solutions. The Loop will embody this ambitious work, allowing everyone to be part of the change.
We're also pushing forward into the second year of our Textile Reuse Hub and Sustainable Young Makers programme, delivered with Yodomo and Rise Up East. This project is funded by the Mayor of London with space kindly donated by The Trampery, in conjunction with Peabody and Hill Group. This ReRoute initiative transforms surplus textiles into resources for fledgling circular businesses to grow and gives young people the chance to learn industry-ready skills to grow their careers in the fashion industry.
Together, we're delivering huge environmental and social value for East London and surrounding boroughs. But this is just the beginning.
Our community-led model rewrites the rules, empowering residents to own change rather than passively benefitting from it. This is the movement that is growing day-by-day in HWFI.