People's Assembly on ‘Heat and Shade’ with Shade the UK

Shade the UK are an Islington based community interest company (CIC). They work collaboratively to adapt the built environment and public spaces to protect vulnerable people against a changing climate.

Shade the UK have been researching the impacts of overheating in Islington’s buildings and have collected a range of ‘40 degree stories’* from people affected by the heatwave in 2022.

Islington Climate Centre are partnering with Shade the UK to host a People's Assembly all about heat and shade in Islington. We are bringing together local community groups, business networks, faith groups and other organisations to explore the shared knowledge between us and work out the simple things we can do to reduce the impact of hot weather and heatwaves on our community. Collaboration is key to adapting and building resilience to climate change - together we are stronger.

A People’s Assembly is a facilitated conversation, it works by bringing a really diverse range of people together to pool ideas and explore mutual support. Questions we will be exploring during the People’s Assembly include:

• Hot weather is a relatively new phenomenon for Islington so how can we help ourselves to be more heat aware? What are the quick wins to stay cool and safe?
• Do you know of a potential ‘cool place’ or ‘cool space’ to go to when it gets hot? For example churches, libraries, shops, shady parks and streets? What can we do to create more of these places and spaces and to let people know where they are.
• As we experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, who do we need to look out for in our neighbourhoods? How can we ensure the most vulnerable people in our community are OK during hot weather?
• What can we learn from people’s stories from the 2022 heatwave? What can we learn from cities which have hotter weather and more intense heatwaves than London?

So, do you work with or are you involved with any of the following organisations? Then we want to hear from you!

• Community centres
• Residents associations
• Faith groups
• Local authorities
• Schools and nurseries
• Sports centres and facilities
• Youth clubs
• Primary health care services
• Emergency services
• Social services
• Pensioner groups
• Unions
• Local businesses
• Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs)
• Shared green spaces or playgrounds
• Friends of Parks groups
• Experienced in living in hotter places than London

Date: Wednesday 19 June 2024

Time: 6.00pm-9.00pm

Location: Islington Climate Centre, Angel Central, N1 (next to Wagamamas)

This event is free to attend, but please email info@shadetheuk.co.uk to register your interest in participating. We will then email you to confirm your place.

We will be publishing a series of articles about heat and shade in the run up to this event and will also publish the event outputs so that everyone in Islington can benefit.

*An exhibition of Shade the UK’s ‘40 degree stories’ will be on display at this event and will be available for viewing throughout London Climate Action Week 2024 (Saturday 22 June 2024 - Sunday 30 June 2024). Check the Islington Climate Centre website for opening times.

For more information about Shade the UK and to read our overheating research report please visit www.shadetheuk.com