About
Home Turf is a socially engaged creative project led by London College of Fashion’s Portal Centre for Social Impact, using football and fashion as catalysts for conversations about identity, masculinity and self-expression with young men from East London. Developed by Ashton Jones-Frame whilst on a partnership placement via Creative Newham’s Cultural Producers Programme, Home Turf brought together six local young men, postgraduate and undergraduate students, academics and technical staff to co-create photography, audio, editorial and exhibition outputs that challenged stereotypes and amplified underrepresented voices. The project addressed the absence of working-class and Black young men’s stories within cultural archives and public discourse, creating a space for participants to share lived experience on their own terms. Through a reciprocal knowledge exchange model, community participants were recognised as co-creators rather than subjects. The resulting exhibition, publication and archive have increased representation, strengthened community connections and demonstrated a replicable model for university-community collaboration.
Top 3 learnings
- We found that communities create stronger outcomes when recognised as co-creators, not beneficiaries.
- We recognised that lived experience is a form of expertise that enriches teaching and research.
- We found reciprocal knowledge exchange builds lasting relationships and deeper social impact.
What it would mean to win
To be shortlisted or to win this award would offer our community co-creators recognition and validation that their stories are to be heard and celebrated. In a society that frequently represents young and Black working class men though deficit narratives, to have their stories recognised and valued through Green Gown Award would be a phenomenal boost to morale and their personal accumen.
SDG
| 2026 | |
| Benefitting Society | |
| Finalist, UK and Ireland |
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