Our 20th anniversary celebrations have taken place across a series of events and activities, highlighting different aspects of our journey and impact over the last 20 years with Local Space colleagues, residents, local authority partners and housing sector professionals.
Our 20th anniversary campaign
We began our 20th anniversary with the launch of a campaign that celebrates the people at the heart of Local Space – our residents.
Behind every door is a unique story, and we continue to share the difference having a settled home makes through our residents’ stories. These stories bring our purpose and impact to life, showing how lives have been transformed by the safety, stability and opportunity our homes provide for individuals and families.
Every story is different, but they all begin with the same foundation: a place to call home.
Celebrating with our residents: Family Fun Day
Our Family Fun Day provided an opportunity to celebrate our 20th anniversary with residents, bringing people together through games, crafts and music. Alongside the celebration, Local Space colleagues heard directly from our residents, learning about their experiences and listening to their stories.
Hearing directly from residents offered an important reflection on how far we have come, while helping us consider what we can build on as we look to the future and continue to develop our services and improve outcomes for residents.
Read more about our Family Fun Day 2026.
Celebrating with our colleagues: People Conference
This year, our People Conference was held at the ArcelorMittal Orbit, combining a day of reflection over the past 20 years, listening to our residents’ stories, and looking ahead to Local Space’s continued growth and evolution.
Our People Awards recognised Local Space colleagues who embody our organisational values, providing opportunity to appreciate their resilience, ambition and dedication that have contributed to our achievements over the last two decades.
Celebrating with our key partners: Stratford Town Hall celebration
ur celebration at Stratford Town Hall brought together councillors and officers from the London Boroughs of Newham, Waltham Forest and Hackney, housing professionals, Board members, residents, strategic partners and representatives from across the wider housing sector. Guests included Sir Stephen Timms MP for East Ham.
The evening began with a panel discussion, chaired by Samantha Grix, Partner at Devonshires and Co-Lead at the Temporary Accommodation Network and featured a knowledgeable panel made up of:
- Maggie Rafalowicz (Director at Campbell Tickell & Co-Lead at the Temporary Accommodation Network)
- Zulfiqar Mulak (Director of Housing Needs at Newham Council)
- Mark Kent (Deputy CEO at Local Space)
- Joanne Harrison (Local Space resident).
Topics ranged from the role of partnerships in providing a solution to the housing crisis, creating a sustainable future for systems of temporary accommodation, the resident experience and what government, councils and housing providers need to do differently for the benefit of residents everywhere.
To mark the significance of our 20th anniversary, artist Mimi Dearing of Get it Done, community arts organisation, produced an artistic response to our Opening Doors campaign. Casting silhouettes onto fabric walls, Mimi sought to visualise the different lives of people living in a Local Space home and the many stories that lie behind every door.
Resident Award winners!
It was a night for celebration in more than the sense of our 20th anniversary, with the ceremony for our Resident Awards 2026 announcing the well deserved winners.
The Resident Awards celebrated the residents who help make our communities supportive, welcoming and vibrant places to live. These awards were solely voted for by our resident community – thank you to all who voted and to all the nominees, your collaboration, dedicated care, and influence in local improvements are what makes these homes truly special.
We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations once more to:
Paul Tate – Good Neighbour Award
Yasmin Ahmed – Community Champion Award
Bill Page & Joanne Harrison – Lifetime Contribution Award
Reflecting on the event and our 20th anniversary, Josie Parsons, Chief Executive of Local Space, said:
“Our 20th anniversary is a great cause for celebration, but it goes beyond congratulating ourselves. It’s about recognising how far we have come, remembering why our work matters and renewing our commitment to helping solve the homelessness crisis. Because today, tackling homelessness is every bit as urgent as it was 20 years ago.
The need has never been greater, and the challenges ahead are vast. But we are determined to keep opening doors to more good quality homes, to new ideas and stronger partnerships. Most importantly, opening doors to the stability, security and opportunity that every person and every family deserves. This is the legacy of our 20th anniversary.”
While Ian Lush, our new Chair of the Board for Local Space, shared his reflections of the celebrations:
“Local Space’s 20th anniversary celebrates the strength of our partnerships and the importance of collaboration. Working together for a shared purpose, using our different strengths, perspectives and experiences is the surest route to tangible change and real impact for individuals and families facing homelessness.
Our Opening Doors campaign is the result of combined effort, trust and belief in forging long-term solutions that give people, not just a place to live, but somewhere to call home for as long as they need.
Hearing our residents’ stories and taking part in both the People Conference and the 20th anniversary celebration at Stratford Town Hall has provided an inspiring start to my Board membership. And this momentum shows no signs of abating – I very much look forward to what we will celebrate next.”
Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey over the past 20 years, and to everyone who has celebrated with us over the past few months. We look forward to sharing more stories as part of the Opening Doors campaign and playing a role in many more stories to come.