Following the Tottenham Riots in 1985, Chickenshed were commissioned to be part of the transformation of the Broadwater Farm housing estate. The Tottenham estate housed around 3,800 people of 39 different nationalities and has often been described as a ‘laboratory of social policy’.
Chickenshed’s role was to enter into Broadwater Farm Primary and Moselle Special Schools, and assist with the regeneration of the community and ease racial tension in particular following the riots. So successful was our involvement that our methods inspired Haringey LEA’s inclusion policy thereafter. And this project also lead to Chickenshed establishing a national training programme that has resulted in the creation of 22 outreach projects across the country – the first being Haringey Shed in Tottenham, opened via funding from the Social Regeneration Fund.
Later, in 1999, Chickenshed was commissioned by the Government Careers Agency Prospects (now Connexions) and the DfEE (at the time, a unique partnership) to work in Northumberland Park on a inclusion and regeneration initiative. The project brought together groups from Northumberland Park, Lancasterians and The Vale (primary and secondary) with the focus on those children considered to be ‘disaffected’. We worked with the children and young people on their transition from primary to secondary education, and from secondary education into work during the summer term, with approximately 75 pupils from these schools working together with Chickenshed on an inclusive drama project.
"There were many cases of individuals making giant strides in their personal development. This was seen by the way they engaged with the project, growing in confidence and understanding."
Peter Heaviside, Propsects Careers Service