Annual Community Impact · Volume 01
32,000 sq ft on Lisson Grove. What was a dormant Job Centre is now a cultural and community venue serving Westminster's residents, young people, creatives, and community groups.
Magdi Fernandes
Founder portrait
"Westminster handed us the keys to a building. We're handing back a place the neighbourhood calls its own."
[Founder's note — 200–300 words by Magdi to be inserted here. Warm, grounded, partnership-focused.]
Magdi Fernandes
Director, The Exchange NW1 CIC
The transformation is the emotional anchor of this year. These pages are the receipt — a building reclaimed by the community it was always meant to serve.
Exterior — Job Centre era
Exterior — today
The frontage on Lisson Grove, before handover and after fit-out.
Main hall — empty, dated
Main hall — event in progress
Same floor. Different life.
The handover — keys, council, founder
Full-bleed anchor shot
The Exchange NW1 is a 32,000 sq ft cultural and community venue in Westminster — free or low-cost, by design.
32,000
sq ft venue
NW1 6TZ
Lisson Grove
CIC
Community interest
2024–25
Reporting period
1,577
Unique attendees
Eventbrite-validated, 3 events
3
Events delivered
Validated to date
[XX]
Westminster postcode reach
[XX]
Partner organisations engaged
[XX]
Volunteer hours logged
[XX]
Young people engaged
[XX]
Hours of space gifted to community groups
[XX]
Workshops and classes hosted
[XX]
Free or subsidised bookings
From the main hall to the studios, co-working desks and quiet rooms — a zoned floor plan designed to flex from a 500-person event to a six-person youth workshop.
Annotated floor plan / zone map
Full-bleed plan or zoned photography
Event hall
Studios
Co-working
Community rooms
Youth work experience — students filming
Confirmed case study
Case study 01 · Confirmed
A two-day work experience placement for 15-year-old students, producing video and photography deliverables across the venue. [60–80 word write-up to be confirmed.]
"[Pull quote from a participant — to be sourced.]"
[XX] deliverables produced
Case study 02 hero
To be confirmed
Case study 02 · TBC
[60–80 word write-up describing the programme, who it served, and the outcome. Photography hero, pull quote, single stat.]
"[Pull quote with attribution.]"
[XX] [outcome metric]
Case study 03 hero
To be confirmed
Case study 03 · TBC
[60–80 word write-up describing the programme, who it served, and the outcome. Photography hero, pull quote, single stat.]
"[Pull quote with attribution.]"
[XX] [outcome metric]
Case study 04 hero
To be confirmed
Case study 04 · TBC
[60–80 word write-up describing the programme, who it served, and the outcome. Photography hero, pull quote, single stat.]
"[Pull quote with attribution.]"
[XX] [outcome metric]
"[Testimonial quote one — full bleed treatment.]"
"[Testimonial quote two.]"
"[Testimonial quote three.]"
"[Testimonial quote four.]"
"[Testimonial quote five.]"
"[Testimonial quote six.]"
With thanks to Westminster City Council and the partners who built this year alongside us.
[150–200 words on the year ahead: programme ambitions, capacity, and the partnership ask of Westminster City Council.]
Hopeful, forward-looking shot
Young people, programme, or venue at golden hour