Make Space
Reimagining parks and public space through equity and engagement.
Listening to excluded voices, shaping inclusive places.
Making space for people to belong.
Parks and public spaces need to work for the people, all people.
My work focuses on creating more welcoming parks and public spaces, with a particular focus on teenage girls and groups who are often overlooked.
I lead Make Space York, a grassroots project shaped by listening to teenage girls and working alongside them to understand how parks feel, where they belong and what needs to change. The project combines creative engagement, events and co created spaces to turn insight into real, visible change on the ground.
Alongside this, I work as an independent engagement consultant, supporting councils, designers, charities and community organisations to involve people meaningfully in shaping public space. My work includes community engagement, co creation, consultancy, training and speaking.
Everything here is grounded in lived experience, participation and practical action. From research and consultation to festivals, exhibitions and community led projects, the aim is the same – to help create public spaces where more people feel welcome, included and able to belong.
The Tiny Roar CIC is the is the ‘not for profit’ side of the organisation, utilising grants and funding found to create welcoming parks and public spaces – running community events and activities to bring people together and improve physical and mental health and well being. A focus is on addressing the barriers that stop some groups from accessing parks and the opportunities they bring.
The Make Space York project includes an annual festival of free events for teenage girls, ongoing engagement and activities, awareness campaigns and fundraising to make improvements to parks in York.
My aim is to help create lasting, equitable spaces that reflect the people who use them.
Let’s Make Space
Listen. Co-create. Reimagine parks and public spaces so everyone feels they belong.
- Inclusive engagement with communities
- Creative co-design of play and recreation spaces
- Training and speaking on equity and engagement
- Collaborations that inspire change
- Events and activities for the community
Engagement
A range of creative engagement sessions.
Training and speaking engagements
Panels, speaking, CPD – bespoke training tailored to your needs.
Make Space Festival & events
Events and activities for teenage girls, and women, in parks.
Let’s work together and shape and make inclusive spaces.
Inclusive parks and public spaces that reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.
The approach is rooted in genuine community collaboration. It starts by listening – creating welcoming opportunities for people from all parts of the community to share how they use public spaces and what might make them feel more included.
Through creative workshops, conversations, and events, we uncover the barriers that often prevent certain groups from feeling that parks and shared spaces are “for them”. By combining lived experience with research and policy insight, we work with councils, designers and local organisations to turn those findings into meaningful change.
makespaceyork@gmail.com
