Learning from Crisis

As we navigate the Covid-19 “new normal” and consider the world we’ll emerge into, Future of London is here to share support, intel, strategy and best practice across a multi-media programme, Learning from Crisis, across two interlinked aspects:

Managing now: Approaches to the overwhelming challenges FoL’s network has faced, including the impressive and inspirational responses from individuals and organisations.

Emerging from Crisis: Society is at a critical junction – how we live, work, move, teach, govern, fund, build and provide care are all up in the air. How do we make sure we get it right?

Topics include:

Politics, policy & fiscal approach
Economy, from macro and regional drivers to local actions & impacts across sectors
How we work – workspace and home design, commuting, connectivity and the value of work
Environment – FoL’s Achieving Net Zero work; public space, movement & logistics
Homebuilding’s new normal: Cross-sector action & issues including planning, investment & supply chain, as well as FoL’s Council-Led Housing Forum, open to councils across the country
Society – work-life balance, equality, health, culture, privacy and engagement
Delivery – tied to the above, and across all sectors & communities

Find support and tools at our Resource Hub, or check on upcoming #LearningFromCrisis webinars and podcasts at FoL’s Events page.

Get involved

To speak, sponsor or suggest an idea, contact Lisa Taylor. For questions about format or access, contact Fran Lord.

Content to date

“Crisis? What crisis?” London leaders highlight ESG investment opportunities

London is working hard to rebuild its reputation – both at home and abroad. But is this a chance for the capital to redefine itself, drive the ESG agenda and…

Boroughs as market makers: transforming under-used buildings to create public value for communities

Many councils are under pressure to fill budget gaps and sell their owned or managed buildings. But more are becoming ‘market makers,’ pushing for a longer-term stake and turning vacant or under-used buildings into community-managed assets

Report: Achieving Net Zero

FoL’s report celebrates London’s sustainability milestones but examines what more the built environment sector, as a contributor of 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint, needs to do to support built environment sector change and encourage community participation in achieving net zero in the wake of Brexit and Covid-19.

Community, connection and Covid-19: How community development programmes can keep communities resilient during a crisis

Community, connection and Covid-19: Building community resilience to a crisis

Empowering residents and increasing equality and inclusion can boost community cohesion – as well as keep communities resilient in tough times. In this case study of Grahame Park in Barnet, we explore the benefits of investment in community development programmes, and how they’ve flexed in lockdown.

‘Connections’ Ep. 8: Creative use of public assets

This ‘Connections’ episode focuses on the creative and progressive use of public-sector assets to achieve greater local impact. Local authorities are increasingly asking how they can deliver more social and economic value through the properties that they own, control and influence.

Spotlight: Dance – and so much more

Alex Peters is a professional dancer and mentor who’s helped dozens of Future London Leaders candidates step outside their comfort zone and think creatively. See his excellent short video on dance and wellbeing here, part of AXA Health’s Feelgood Health Journey.

Spotlight: Creating culture at speed during a crisis

To build a hospital in 13 days is a big challenge. To build a culture in 13 days is an even bigger one. John Herring explains what the public sector can learn from the ways in which NHS Nightingale North West created a ‘one workforce’ culture at speed in response to the pandemic.

Four challenges facing affordable home builders

Future of London panel discussion exploring how the public sector can navigate the four major challenges currently facing affordable home builders in London: new fire safety regulations, net zero targets, Brexit and Covid-19.

Taking Leaders Online – CityBites Podcast interview with Miffa Salter

Need some New Year’s inspiration? Try this City Bites interview with Urbancanda’s Miffa Salter, including great tips on leading and learning virtually, plus a snapshot at how FoL took its Leaders programmes online.

A new form of localism?

We’re once again under national lockdown restrictions and mostly living, working and playing within our local areas. This behaviour could be a short-term reaction to the new measures except there is now growing evidence of longer-term trends and an emerging form of localism. An alumni-led discussion, chaired by FoL board member Lucy Webb, explored how city makers should respond.

Accelerating homebuilding, BPTW, Watts Grove, Tower Hamlets, London

Accelerating homebuilding: how the public sector can deliver more homes, more efficiently

The public sector is facing a huge a challenge to accelerate homebuilding under extraordinary circumstances. But there are financial mechanisms from government available, planning reform in consultation, an appetite for collaboration and widespread public support for more homes. So how can the sector pull together against the odds? Featured image credit: BPTW

Crossrail hoarding at Farringdon, Paying for public projects in a post-Covid world

Paying for Public Projects in a Covid World

On 19 Nov, join our #LearningFromCrisis roundtable on funding projects post-Covid. Brilliant cross-sector guests share insight on navigating shrinking budgets, the EU grant void and evolving sources of funding and finance.

Conference write-up: working towards solutions for a Green Recovery

A green recovery could help us both recover economically from Covid-19 and tackle the climate emergency, by delivering more sustainable growth and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So how can…

Conference write-up: Funding net zero

In the second webinar of our Achieving Net Zero Digital Conference Week, we reflected on how the public and private sectors can work together to fund the transition to a zero carbon built environment sector, and how we can make sure that the benefits and burdens of funding net zero are spread equally amongst all communities?

Conference write-up: Changing our behaviours to achieve net zero

In the first webinar of our Achieving Net Zero Digital Conference Week, we explored what the public and private sectors can do to embed holistic Net Zero thinking and drive behaviour change. This is a summary of some of the key themes and practical examples that emerged from our panel discussions and audience Q&A.

Parks and green space: does everyone feel welcome?

Throughout the pandemic, parks have provided respite from cabin fever and safe places to meet family and friends. Whilst Covid demonstrates the value of green space for everybody, it also highlights inequalities. This webinar explored barriers experienced by people from different backgrounds and how the sector can do better.

‘Connections’ Ep. 6: Children and families

This episode explores how Covid-19 has affected children, young people and families – and the impact this is having on women’s careers, children’s education and wellbeing, and our use of public space – particularly green space.

‘Connections’ Ep. 5: How to build connection – when we are all two metres apart

In this podcast we ask Bethan Harris from The Loneliness Lab and Stephanie Goldberg from the GLA: how can we build community within the context of Covid-19?

Communities of Practice: High streets

The future of high streets and town centres is not a new topic, but one that has certainly been brought into much sharper focus in recent months because of Covid-19. Adding to longstanding questions over the future of bricks and mortar retail and how this impacts high street footfall, uncertainty resulting from lockdown, social distancing, changes to working patterns and planning system reform are now thrown into the mix.

‘Connections’ Ep. 4: Culture + Place

Hear about the shifting connections between culture and place in this lively conversation with cultural strategist Aida Esposito, Southbank Centre’s Gillian Moore CBE and placemaking strategist and FoL alum Paul Augarde.

City Makers’ Forum: London’s Green Recovery

This City Makers’ Forum invited cross-sector speakers working at the frontline of London’s recovery response to assess London’s ambitions for a green recovery. Can we capitalise on this opportunity, and pull together to leverage public support and political will, to ultimately deliver a recovery that is fair and equitable for all?

Alumni communities of practice forum - maker spaces, SPACE ilford 2x1

Alumni Communities of Practice: Maker spaces

Many artists have fallen through the gaps of government financial support during lockdown and sustaining access to affordable studio space and peer support networks has been vital to their survival. Alumni Rep Sarah Birt explores why in this guest post.