A live invitation to organisations and individuals ready to lead the future — not follow it.
The childcare system is broken. We all know it. Reports, manifestos, think tanks and campaigns have told us the same story for years:
  • Too few staff.
  • Not enough places.
  • Families stuck.
  • Providers drowning.
At the same time, two big visions have emerged:
  • Rescue & Reform — a policy manifesto demanding government action.
  • The Great Childcare Reset — our entrepreneurial blueprint to build new models now.
One called on power to act.
The other started acting.
This is your invitation to be part of the Reset.
A Pilot for the Future of Childcare, Family Support & Community Infrastructure
The Problem
Hackney Council has a dormant, underused office building that's been empty for five years.
Our Solution
We have a shovel-ready plan to turn it into a flagship, fully operational early years, training, and community hub that delivers measurable social return and economic uplift from year one.
The Vision
The Hackney Hub will not only house the first ever National Childcare Corps base, but serve as a live testbed for a better model of family support, youth inclusion, workforce growth, and multi-generational care. This is not a theoretical think tank plan. It's a full build with a trained team and mapped delivery model — and we want to launch it in your borough.
THE BUILDING
25,000+ sqft council-owned office block in Hackney
Empty since pre-COVID — no long-term tenant interest
Fully refurbished to CAT A spec in 2021
Triple-aspect light, dual entrances, flexible floorspace
Located next to Job Centre, family services, and transport routes
Currently producing zero value. Our plan changes that.
THE BIG IDEA: WHAT IT BECOMES
One building. Four floors. All generations served.
1
GROUND
Pay-what-you-can community café, nutrition academy, food bank pantry, urban garden, Family services Hub
2
FLOOR 1
Affordable childcare, nursery, Family Play lounge, SEND studio
3
FLOOR 2
National Childcare Corps HQ – training, CPD, bank staffing agency
4
FLOOR 3
Youth floor – life skills, peer mentoring, exam support, creative space
Outdoors: A Community Eco Garden & Sustainability Hub, teaching environmental stewardship and supporting wellbeing.
TANGIBLE RESULTS
100+
Low-income families
Supported with subsidised childcare
40+
New roles
Including Corps trainees, kitchen staff, hub leads
300+
Young people
Accessing safe after-school space, mentoring, support
1,000+
Community members
Actively engaged in hub activities
Additional impact includes 10,000 healthy meals via pantry & café and 200 households participating in sustainability programmes.
THE ASK: WHAT WE NEED FROM COUNCILS
Low-Base Rent Agreement
Explore the ORU business case precedent: Low Base Rent + Collaborative Funding
Value to Council: guaranteed community use + long-term savings on social services
Business Rates Review
Acknowledge charitable + childcare function for discretionary relief
Public Endorsement as Innovation Partner
Formal recognition enables match funding applications (GLA, Lottery, Impact Capital)
Fit-Out Flexibility & Planning Support
Allow zoning changes to accommodate family services + early years nursery
Support flexible use (community café, SEND space, events)
Connection to Existing Services
Co-design integration with local authority services for SEND, family help, employability, youth inclusion
WHY THIS MATTERS
Real Innovation
Demonstrates real innovation in childcare, not just policy announcements
Asset Utilisation
Uses council-owned assets to actively reduce poverty, boost employment, and protect at-risk youth
Integrated Services
Brings services together under one roof — SEND, parenting, careers, mental health, early years
National Flagship
Makes Hackney the national flagship site for a childcare reform movement already gaining national attention
Inclusive Regeneration
Offers a future-proof model of inclusive regeneration that doesn't displace — it empowers
WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE COUNCIL?
First-Mover Advantage
First-mover advantage in national childcare transformation
Legacy Project
Legacy project for Hackney's leadership
Political Capital
Political capital: shows bold, values-led action with real results
Strong Narrative
Strong press/public narrative: "From empty office to thriving hub for families, youth and care"
READY TO LAUNCH
Pilot site mapped
Founding team in place
Corps training model built
Local stakeholder support growing
Full delivery + comms plan ready
We Just need to confirm the site and secure funding - one does not work without the other.
LET'S BUILD IT TOGETHER

Unlock the Door
You provide access to the building
We Transform the Space
We handle the full build and setup
Community Benefits
Everyone in Hackney gains a valuable resource
We're not asking you to imagine. We're asking you to activate a space that already exists. We'll deliver everything. You unlock the door.
Let's make Hackney the home of the future of childcare.
We’re Not Alone — This Is a Movement”
The Hackney Hub isn’t just a one-off project. It’s the frontline of a national shift already backed by evidence, cross-sector coalitions, and voter demand.
We’re not writing a white paper. We’re activating one.
🔍 Aligned With National Childcare Reform Thinking:
The Great Childcare Reset
40,000 early years staff needed by 2025.
School readiness in decline.
SEND pathways broken.
Thousands of settings closing.
➜ The Reset’s proposed interventions are already designed. This pilot is how we test and deliver them.
Rescue & Reform Manifesto – Early Education & Childcare Coalition (EECC)
Over 30 national organisations call for bold reform.
Emphasis on workforce investment, SEND inclusion, affordability, and long-term funding.
➜ Hackney Hub delivers directly on these pillars.
Families First Pathfinder Programme – DfE 2025
£500M+ in reform funding already allocated.
Emphasis on integrated Family Help, multi-agency hubs, and SEND access.
➜ Our pilot site could serve as a Families First flagship in action.
Royal Foundation -
Shaping Us campaign spotlights the vital importance of the first five years in shaping lifelong outcomes.
Business Taskforce for Early Childhood mobilises major UK employers to embed early years support into workplace culture, recognising that investing in children means investing in our future workforce and economy.
Two Movements. One Shared Mission.
Two visions. Different tools. Same mission.
While Rescue & Reform called on government to act, we got to work building out the how — creating the Hackney Hub as a live, physical response to the childcare crisis.
Their call: “Here’s what must change.”
Ours: “Here’s one way we can start doing it — now.”
Hackney Hub: A Manifesto Made Real
We didn’t wait for permission. We created a sample pilot.
Rooted in policy research, powered by social enterprise, and designed with families and the sector as partners — the Hackney Hub is a tangible, multi-floor answer to everything both manifestos demand.
🧱 Not Just Another PDF
This isn’t a theoretical white paper or a downloadable manifesto. It’s a ready-to-launch pilot.
  • It speaks to the Families First transformation.
  • It builds on the Centre for Young Lives' call for joined-up place-based delivery.
  • It takes the spirit of Rescue & Reform and gives it a postcode, a door, and a floorplan.
If the EECC manifesto was the rallying cry, the Hackney Hub is the response.
A bold, testable, tangible model — built not to compete, but to complement.
GET IN TOUCH
Who is behind The Hackney Hub?
The Hackney Hub is presented by The CFD – Creators of the Great Childcare Reset. We are a team of childcare, community development and social innovation experts dedicated to transforming how childcare and community services are delivered.
How can I learn more about the project?
You can visit our website at unknown link for more information about our work and vision for the future of childcare and community services.
How can I contact the team?
Contact: Maggie Bolger, The CFD
Website: unknown link