What's next?

The extent of community initiative in Blackfriars and SE1 was partly due to residents’ response to unacceptable local conditions but also because communities had the means to fight back, supported by action centres funded by charities and critically at times by local councils.

This tour shows a snapshot in time of independent citizen action; of people standing up for themselves in the face of huge pressures from vested commercial and political interests.

Conditions in Blackfriars have improved since the 1970s, but poverty and development pressures in SE1 have not gone away. And on a wider vista, the passage of time has seen many challenges to the vision of an inclusive and caring society.

For more information about the amazing spirit of community action in SE1 please go to se1stories.uk