Where children grow up matters and quality affordable housing plays a major role in the health, learning and connections between children and their caregivers. The Family Voices Toolkit developed by London-based ZCD Architects, with the support of the Van Leer Foundation was created for investors, developers and city leaders involved in housing to listen to the perspectives of young families. By integrating their needs into their urban development projects, built environment stakeholders can create homes and neighbourhoods where children and their caregivers can flourish.
Why we need to listen to the voices of parents and caregivers
The toolkit which is now online shares insights into how stakeholders can engage meaningfully with parents and caregivers of children aged 5 and under on the planning, design and management of affordable housing. It includes frames for sessions, creative materials and practical considerations such as how to reach parents of young children, what days and times they are likely to be available, and how to make it more practical for them to participate – for example, by providing childcare.
Dinah Bornat, Director at ZCD Architects – who designed the tool and led pilot sessions with parents – said: “Parents’ voices matter and when we listen to them we understand what they need. They want safe places for their children to play and they want spaces where they can connect with their neighbours.” This type of engagement process builds trust with local communities and creates vital connections between housing investors, developers, architects and parents.
Testing the toolkit with communities
The toolkit has already been tested and refined through collaboration with local communities and leading companies such as Earls Court Development Company, Bridges Fund Management, Jonathan Rose Companies and PATRIZIA Sustainable Communities. Pilot locations include Earls Court Development and Queen’s Quarter in London, Barbara Jean Wright Court in Chicago, and Citywest in Dublin. Other organisations involved include FABRIX, HUB and Ardstone.
“Having tested the concept, we are clear that The Family Voices Toolkit will be a critical tool to help us meaningfully engage with young local families and ensure our plans for Earls Court work for them,” said Rebekah Paczek, Director of Public Affairs, Social Impact and Community Engagement for The Earls Court Development Company.
A gathering held at The Earls Court Development Company in London to launch the toolkit brought together over 80 impact investors, developers, city leaders, architects and urban planners. The event created genuine connections between professionals interested in understanding how a focus on the experiences of young children and parents in affordable housing and neighbourhood developments can create impact and support inclusive and thriving communities. As the Van Leer Foundation’s Representative for Mission Related Investing, Irina Ivan-van der Kwaak emphasised: “By listening to communities, across the end-to-end development process, we can more authentically understand their priorities and identify meaningful ways of supporting them.”
Listen to this podcast with Dinah and Irina to learn more.
