Transforming Stratford Park: Young Designers Bring Fresh Ideas to the Old Pavilion

Empowering Young People to Transform their Community Spaces

This summer, Stratford Park's Old Pavilion is getting a fresh new look, thanks to a group of talented young designers! Organised by Newham’s Detached Youth Team and Populo Living, the Young Designers Programme is back for its third year, giving local young people the opportunity to reimagine and revitalise a cherished community space.

Breathing New Life into the Old Pavilion

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Stratford Park, the Old Pavilion might be easy to miss, but it’s a hidden gem with loads of potential. Once the hub of a bowling club, the pavilion now houses a weekly poetry club and serves as an occasional meeting spot for community groups. But with the creative help of our Newham’s young people at work, it’s set to become a vibrant, dynamic space that meets the needs of the community.

At the start of the programme, our young designers took a tour of the Old Pavilion and the surrounding park, sharing their first impressions and bouncing around ideas for what the space could become. From leisure areas to cosy seating, a performance stage, and even a barbecue spot, our young designers aren’t short of ideas! Over the next few weeks, they’ll be refining their proposals, turning their vision into reality.

Designing for the Community, by the Community

The Young Designers Programme is all about bringing people together to shape their own neighbourhood. It’s about giving young people the chance to make a real difference in their community. Working with a modest budget, they’re encouraged to get creative and think about how their designs can have the biggest impact.

Community involvement is at the heart of Carpenters Estate’s regeneration, and we’re so excited to see these young designers embrace the challenge. This programme is part of a bigger effort to make sure the changes happening in the area truly benefit the people who live here.

Moving Forward

Last year, aspiring young designers took on the ‘Future of Work’ theme and added some vibrant paintwork to Dennison Point Basketball Court and new seating in the estate’s communal areas. We can’t wait to see this year’s final designs and watch as Stratford Park’s Old Pavilion is transformed into a lively community space.

Keep an eye out for updates as our young designers work their magic and turn their ideas into reality, creating something special for not just the Carpenters Estate, but the wider Newham area too.



Follow along and find out more about Newham's Detached Youth Team here.