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The project was instigated by the London Historic Buildings Trust (LHBT) whose vision is to deliver high quality, sustainable heritage-led projects reusing historic buildings  to create innovative social solutions and cultural benefits.

LHBT partnered with Learning For Life Charity, an Enfield based charity formed from a partnership between West Lea School and the local community, who support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

The project was awarded Development Phase funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund

⦁    Together the charities proposed to use their specialist skills, as defined in their partnership agreement with the support of Local Authority partners and community volunteers, to deliver the Life in the Community project which includes a not-for-profit café and a mini conference centre to host meetings, training, events, cinema and activities for local schools

⦁    The refurbished buildings would provide opportunities for young people with SEND or who are unemployed or socially excluded, to access work experience and develop key skills, to help young people into employment

⦁    Life in the Community would act as a centre of excellence for quality work training to develop key skills in catering, hospitality, customer service and money management to tackle the inequalities faced by disabled people and other marginalised groups

⦁    The centre would act as a 'community hub' providing outreach and support services for the vulnerable to tackle inequality in the community​