Family Voices toolkit has been funded and led by the Van Leer Foundation, and developed by ZCD Architects.
Film credit: Milo Cumpstey - Speedwagon Productions and Alexis Camejo - Van Leer Foundation
Van Leer are committed to aligning their investments with their mission, which is to make cities better places for very young children and their parents and care givers. To do this they have started working closely with their investment partners, each of whom is responsible for delivering family housing.
Recognising that parents and carers of very young children are routinely overlooked, Van Leer brought in ZCD Architects to lead on the development of a toolkit, which would provide the support needed to offer this group quality community engagement.
The toolkit helps Van Leer’s investment partners meet Van Leer’s aims as well as their own social value and ESG objectives. It has a focus on housing and sets out all the steps needed to include parents and care givers.
It can also act as a community engagement toolkit for other groups, as the techniques are transferable and the format and learnings can be applied.
Van Leer Foundation and ZCD Architects worked closely with the partners to set the scope and detail of the toolkit, testing it in the UK, Eire and the US and providing feedback at a series of milestone meetings that culminated in an in person round table in September 2024. Click on each of the partners to find out more about who was involved.​
Van Leer Foundation
The Van Leer Foundation is an independent Dutch organisation working globally to foster inclusive societies where all children and communities can flourish. We bring together people with different perspectives and support them to achieve large-scale impact. Our support involves a unique combination of funding, networks, executive education, technical assistance and knowledge.
ZCD Architects
ZCD Architects are experts in people-centred city-making, architecture and development. Founded in 2013 the practice has experience across housing, mixed use, education and community buildings. We are backed by a strong body of research, with a grounding in child friendly design and engagement. This enables us to offer inclusive engagement and a high level of design advocacy inputting into master planning, urban design, policy and best practice.
Jonathan Rose Companies
Jonathan Rose Companies is one of the leading owners, developers, and operators of green affordable and mixed-income communities in the US. Founded in 1989, the firm is a fully integrated investment management, development and asset management company with construction management, solar energy, mortgage finance and title companies. Our mission is to create a more environmentally thriving, socially just world through the development, preservation, renovation, and ownership of green, affordable and mixed income housing.
PATRIZIA
PATRIZIA is a leading global real estate investment manager with a purpose of ‘Building Communities & Sustainable Futures’. PATRIZIA Sustainable Communities, PATRIZIA’s impact fund that has been involved here through its project in Dublin, is dedicated to creating affordable/social homes and social infrastructure that helps the underserved live in stronger and inclusive communities in European cities.
The Earls Court Development Company
The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) is responsible for driving forward the development of the 40-acre former Earls Court Exhibition Centre site in London. The development will deliver a better piece of city, which stitches back into existing communities. With an ambition to be a global exemplar of sustainability, it will be a neighbourhood designed for all stages of life, bringing homes, workspace, culture, leisure, open space and community uses within a landscape-led development.
Bridges Fund Management
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Bridges Fund Management is a specialist sustainable and impact investor. Founded in 2002, the firm invests exclusively in solutions supporting the transition to a more inclusive, more sustainable economy through its property, growth business, and outcomes partnership investment strategies.
HUB
HUB is a progressive developer creating living places, ensuring that communities can thrive, now and into the future. Established in 2012, HUB has over 8,800 homes completed or under development across the UK, with a focus on transformative and high-quality living schemes, from BTR-led regeneration to building adaptation and retrofit in city centres.
Fabrix
Fabrix is a London-based, transformational real estate developer, specialising in bringing value to underutilised and overlooked urban spaces. Established in 2016, the company’s portfolio spans commercial and residential-led regeneration, at all scales, from individual buildings through to major mixed-use masterplans.
Ardstone
Ardstone is a real estate specialist that invests and develops to make a lasting, positive contribution.