Blue-sky thinkers win night on Southbank roof with their capital ideas
Two "social entrepreneurs" with dreams for transforming the capital were named today as the first winners in the Evening Standard's
Katharine Hibbert, 30, from Poplar, and Jack Graham, 28, from Dalston, now get the chance to ponder their schemes in the inspirational environment of the Room for London - the "ship hotel" which was placed on top of the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall last week.
It will open for business in the new year, once the bedroom, kitchenette and viewing deck are fitted out.
Ms Hibbert was chosen as the first winner by judges for her proposal to tackle London's 40,000 long-term empty homes. Her scheme would give people who do community work the chance to occupy an empty home on a temporary basis as a "property guardian". Such a scheme would allow the owner to get the property back quickly while keeping it safe and secure. Mr Graham will follow her into the Room for London to discuss his notion of developing gap years in the capital.
He wants to encourage young people to shun the allure of Africa or Asia to work on solving the social problems here. Both will discuss their ideas with experts at a dinner in the Room for London before they get the chance to consider their proposal further by spending the night on the roof.
Ms Hibbert, who began developing her scheme after being made redundant as a journalist, said empty homes counted for up to two per cent of the entire housing stock. "They're not just a wasted resource but a problem for the owners and neighbours."
She added: "The opportunity to have the adventure of spending the night on top of the Southbank Centre is unmissable."
Mr Graham gets his chance in February. He works for The Young Foundation supporting social entrepreneurs. The Evening Standard's Dispossessed and Get London Reading campaigns had already captured people's imagination, he added.
The Ideas for London competition, run jointly by the Standard with arts organisation Artangel, remains open. One winner a month gets the chance to stay in the Room for London next year.
