Phase 1 Reflections

As Phase 1 of the South Ken ZEN+ Programme comes to a close, we’ve been looking back at everything our partnership has achieved between 2023 and 2025.

Over the past two-and-a-bit years, South Ken ZEN+ has demonstrated what’s possible when cultural, scientific, and academic institutions work together at a neighbourhood scale. To mark the end of this, our first phase, we have produced a summary leaflet, as well as a video to bring it to life.

ADD IN VIDEO AND LEAFLET IMAGE

Strength in Partnership

Our place-based approach is a powerhouse of partnerships, combining our collective expertise and resources to make a meaningful impact on emissions, biodiversity, and sustainability across South Kensington. 

Since 2023, more than 200 people from 22 organisations have taken part in our workshops, roundtables, training sessions and events. Altogether, that’s almost 700 days worth of time of people coming together, sharing what they know, and helping each other to accelerate progress without reinventing the wheel or starting from scratch. There are also almost 500 people signed up to the monthly South Ken ZEN+ newsletter.

We’re all moving at different rates, but coming together in one hub to share learning and experience is invaluable.

Collective Action

Our work has also focused on leveraging collective action, creating conditions for others to contribute and scale-up their own impact. What’s been especially encouraging is the amount of activity that’s come directly from this collaboration - more than 40 workshops, four knowledge-sharing groups that now meet regularly, and a growing set of resources that anyone in the partnership can use (Supply Chain Charter, Emissions Framework, Greenwashing Guide, Carbon Literacy Training etc). We’ve been able to learn from each other’s experience and collaborate to accelerate. 

Wherever you look, you see the influence of South Ken ZEN+ in the decisions we make and the actions we take.

Unlocking Opportunities

South Ken ZEN+ has acted as a catalyst, unlocking new opportunities and triggering wider change. In 2023 and 2024, we established a collective emissions baseline for the neighbourhood, furnishing nine of our member organisations their first-ever carbon footprint.

This collective effort is already leading to economies of scale. For example, in 6 months, we trained 60 from 15 different member organisations as Carbon Literate. Better yet, we have cultivated a home-grown group of new, enthusiastic and expert trainers who are delivered the training across the network and creating a real ripple effect.

We have also connected our members to each other and fostered new collaborations, such as the Dye Garden and the Decision Tree. In 2024, we reached 20,000 people to raise awareness and gather suggestions for how we can make South Kensington more biodiverse and climate resilient. You can browse the recommendations in our report here. These small steps add up, and they show what’s possible when we support each other to move forward in our own ways.

South Ken ZEN+ is a lightning rod – pulling us together, inspiring momentum and shared learning.

Download the leaflet here.

Watch the video here. 

What's Next?

Looking ahead, the ambition behind South Ken ZEN+ is clearer than ever: to accelerate change by working together, initiating neighbourhood scale transformations, and helping shape a zero-emissions, nature-positive South Kensington that is fit for the future. 

To keep abreast of our progress sign up to our newsletter, or get in touch if you share our ambition.