To build a community oven, including, foundations and plinth over a period of three days. To engage local residents, centre users and their children, staff and volunteers in the process.
The project was initiated by The Point in partnership with Crown Lane Children’s Centre. (The Point is a newly-formed residents’ organisation for Crown Point, seeking to engage adults, children and young people in positive activities and skills-sharing). 50% of costs were covered by a small grant from Lambeth Living, with the Children’s Centre contributing the remainder.

Aspects of the course were conducted in both English and Spanish and the weekend enabled us to further develop our teaching and facilitation skills by making links with National Curriculum and Adult Functional Skills. We embedded these and incorporated key learning points into each stage of the build.

Science and technology skills gained by participants included measuring and using spirit levels, understanding thermal mass and insulation, engineering and utilising the molecular and physical properties of different materials.
Through discussion and practical demonstration, we shared information, answered questions and encouraged experimentation. IT facilities on-site also meant that further self-directed learning was possible for participants, and many had their own skills and knowledge to contribute, so between us we covered topics such as the geological formation of land masses in the earth’s pre-history, properties of different substrates, the history and culture of human habitation, technical construction and engineering, the science and natural properties of clay, wood, stone, brick, glass etc, environmental concerns, nature conservation and creative ideas for recycling.

We also created an art-space for sculpting and encouraged observation of, and experimentation with clay in different states of liquidity. In this way, between the CIC team, Centre staff and all the volunteers and participants, we shared skills and knowledge covering just about every area of the curriculum Language and Literacy, Numeracy, Science and Technology, History, Geography. The activities and social aspect of the weekend also provided significant gains for participants in their physical development, health and wellbeing, personal, social and emotional skills and development, self esteem, and sense of community and belonging.

The build and site clear-up took place over three days. We used recycled bottles and sawdust for insulation, glacial clay from the Cross Rail extension, one tonne of sand and straw, recycled bricks and unwanted school urbanite.