A Common London Story – Nearly the End, But Also a Beginning
Well, here we are. After two years of poetry, photography, canal walks, conversations, exhibitions, and filmmaking, A Common London Story is nearly complete. What started as a quiet project in Church Street, Westminster, has turned into something so much bigger, a celebration of place, people, and possibility.
So what is a “common London story”? In a word: regeneration.
But not just buildings. Not just cranes and hoardings and plans on paper. Regeneration in the human sense, of confidence, connection, creativity. Regeneration of pride and place.
It all began with poetry. With the brilliant Amina Atiq leading young people through Church Street and Edgware Road, helping them write about what they saw, felt, and hoped for. That early spark turned into something more. Something visual. Something alive.
We moved into photography next, thanks to workshop leader Cj Swaby and the incredible support of Ana Cristina Bueno and Mariam Fadhunsini. Over three sessions, we took more than 1,600 photographs. We wandered the streets, paused by shop fronts, lingered by the market stalls.
The response was incredible. Our first small exhibition, a kind of preview, took place in the basement of Church Street Library. And even though the “main” exhibition wasn’t due until August, we couldn’t wait to share what we’d made. It is still up to this day if you want to go an see it!
Then something happened: Maida Vale Library invited us to run workshops there too. So in June 2024, we joined the dots with a series of walks along the canal from Maida Vale. The canal became our unofficial route, our creative corridor. The walkways were narrow, a little it difficult to manage because of the bikes (even though they’re not supposed to be there!), and yes, we had to stay vigilant… but we made it, and no one fell in!
By August, we were ready. Our big exhibition took place at Grand Junction, a stunning space that gave the work the platform it deserved. One of the things our producer Natalie and I felt strongly about was reducing waste. We’re a small charity, and we didn’t want to spend money on fancy metal frames and tech that would end up in storage or the bin. So we partnered with MJCP Print and used honeycomb cardboard structures, fully recyclable, lightweight, and perfect for our needs. Environmental thinking meets community art.
Over four days, more than 400 people came to see the work. Not bad at all for our first big show.
But the story didn’t stop there. The young people had questions: Can we do more? Can we try film next? Can we learn how to edit? Their energy was infectious. So, once the weather improved and we secured a little extra funding, we filmed for two days in April 2025, back where it all began, along Church Street Market.
And that’s where I’m writing this from, somewhere between filming and editing, dreaming of the final screening. If all goes to plan, we’ll be showing the film in July 2025, right in the heart of Church Street Market. That moment will mark the end of A Common London Story, and the start of the next chapter for Cayr Charity.
Two people have truly been there throughout: our producer Natalie Clarke, whose support has been unwavering and generous, and our designer Teresa Ferreira, who helped shape the visual identity of a brand-new charity. They’ve both been brilliant.
To our trustees, funders, and, most importantly, the people who live and work in and around Church Street: thank you. Thank you for welcoming us, for joining in, and for trusting us with your stories.
I hope to see you in July for our final celebration.
Let’s see what we can make next.
Hannah Thomas
CEO, Cayr Charity