Growing things can teach us about ageing, remove the fear of ageing
LAB: Community-led Creativity in Tower Hamlets
LAB is Magic Me’s umbrella for experimental, community-responsive projects. We use LAB to listen to residents and co-create arts projects that address local challenges
Roots and Routes – creative consultation
Collaborating with local arts and social organisations including Island House, Toynbee Hall and Watney Market Idea Store, our artists Skye and Shabnam led the first LAB project. Roots and Routes participants drafted a map highlighting the important features of our borough.
Building an intergenerational LGBTQ+ community
Our current LAB project is exploring the need for intergenerational LGBTQ+ spaces in which people can share the specifics of LGBTQ+ experience and wisdom. During this pilot phase, our artists are working with four distinct LGBTQ+ support groups in East London. Creative responses to the ideas we’re discussing will follow – we might make a ‘zine exhibition, we could create garden designs, maybe there will be banners – follow along to see what emerges!
It would be great to get an idea of what it was like for the older queer people, like a lineage or heritage
Meeting Tower Hamlets’ needs
LAB builds community in Tower Hamlets – a bustling borough which has its unique challenges. According to the UK Government’s 2025 Indices of Deprivation Report on Tower Hamlets, 71% of 0-15 children live in income deprived families: the highest rate nationally. 61% of those over 60 experience income deprivation.
Poverty makes it hard to engage in local civic and creative life, leading to isolation and loneliness. The Campaign to End Loneliness reports that loneliness can increase the risk of early mortality by 26%.
All LAB activities are free to participants, and are designed specifically to bring neighbours together.
Invest in community innovation
LAB is developed and supported by the vision of our Trusts & Foundation partners. Unlike standard delivery contracts, LAB funding allows us to be agile, test new ideas, and build the evidence base for future long-term programmes. To learn how you can fund an innovative pilot or a long-term community project please visit our Fund Our Work page.