London Met Lab

Our civic and community initiative, London Met Lab: Empowering London

London Met Lab: Empowering London

London is the greatest city in the world, but while Londoners enjoy some of the highest standards of living anywhere in the world for many others in the capital it is a different story. Through our civic network, we are on a mission to tackle the inequalities facing London, to improve people’s lives and to deliver social justice. Led by Sophie Cloutterbuck, Director of London Engagement, alongside our staff, students and partners, we are bringing our academic expertise to co-design solutions to the social challenges which disproportionately affect the communities that we serve. And we want to work with you. Please read about our commitment and case studies in our Civic University Statement and see how our work links to the University's strategy.

Our Challenge Champions are on hand to undertake research projects, provide practical support and share their expertise so that together, we can find new and innovative ways to respond to the needs of the city in six crucial areas. For student engagement with the local community, we run level 5 and 6 “Empowering London: Working within the Community” student work placement modules. We also have five low-cost and pro bono clinics which cater to the local community. Our applied research centre, the Centre for Applied Research in Empowering Society (CARES), uses empowering models of engagement to challenge inequalities.

We work with over 600 partner organisations, including local authorities, NHS Trusts, sports clubs, third sector organisations, higher education institutions and businesses. Reach out to discuss partnering with us to tackle the challenges facing our city and subscribe to our newsletter by emailing empoweringlondon@londonmet.ac.uk. Please include the name of your organisation, explain the challenges you face and any thoughts you have about how we can work together.

Follow the London Met Lab on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

"The London Met Lab really sets a new high standard for the Civic contribution that higher education providers can make across key areas of the capital...embedding and integrating its civic activity as a core part of the student experience through their empowering London module. I'm particularly interested to see how this approach of getting students to work with London's community organisations on key challenges that their community is facing develops in the future."

Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor of Planning, Regeneration, and Skills

About us

a group of people standing together in an auditorium

Meet the team

Areas of focus

Clinics

Centre for Applied Research in Empowering Society (CARES)

Health Determinants Research Collaboration

Publications

News and events

1/2

No Fixed Abode: Student photography exhibition highlights housing inequality

Research project featuring photographs taken by students reveals housing inequality and impacts on education.

London Met presents at Arsenal accessibility and inclusion event, alongside Google Pixel & Microlink

Dr Jane Lewis, Senior Lecturer at London Met, participated in a panel discussion while the research team presented their findings on a dedicated stand.

London Met wins award for best research collaboration at London Higher Awards 2024

The awards programme has been rolled out to celebrate outstanding achievements in the HE sector.

London Met hosts Wild Ways Research Day

Local residents took part in a research day to influence ‘rewilding’ in London’s gardens.

London Met Lab researcher publishes employment gap report with Haringey Council

The report highlights the many barriers that young people, people with disabilities, and BAME residents experience in accessing jobs in the Haringey borough.

London Met launches t-shirt design competition for Pride in London 2024

London Met calls for imaginative t-shirt designs to celebrate Pride 2024 this summer, and shortlisted entries will be displayed in London Met’s Rainbow Room from 13 May.

London Met Labs hosts two impactful public engagement events with local stakeholders

The University’s London Met Labs team partnered with local advocacy groups and stakeholders to present two events aimed at uplifting and supporting local communities.

Community comes together for launch of Civic University Statement

The London Met Lab-led initiative reaffirms London Metropolitan University’s work in the community and showcase the scale of work taking place across the capital city.

The Liliesleaf Trust UK secure £1.2 million for anti-apartheid legacy project

London Met's Centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement (CREATURE) will collaborate with the Trust on a rolling programme of art based heritage projects.

London Met are planting for the future

Staff and student project from the School of Art, Architecture and Design to plant 420 saplings as part of Woodland Trust scheme.

Photo of Alexandra Banks, Vanessa Airth and Hodan Haili

London Met Hosts Awards Celebrating Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Enterprises

The University's Work Based Learning Team organised the Online Business Start-Up Hub Black History Month Awards on 26 October.

London Met and Islington Council launch disability and health conditions employment report

Report identifies employment barriers for people with disability and long-term health conditions, including key recommendations to address them.

London Met partners with Liliesleaf Trust UK for an exhibition celebrating Leah Tutu's 90th birthday

Students and staff from the University contributed to an exhibition in Cape Town dedicated to the famous South African activist.

London Met's queer safe space opens its doors

Third-year BA Photojournalism student Bianca Jashnani reports from the opening of London Met's Rainbow Room.

Celebrating London Met's student and staff volunteers

London Met’s clinics are helping organisations and people across the capital make a real difference.

Let's Talk Islington: dismantling inequality in Islington

Donna Jones will explore the experiences of inequality among Islington's LGBTQIA+ communities, and elder communities, in two projects with the borough's council.

London Met proud sponsors of Islington Mayor’s Civic Awards

London Met joins Islington Council partners to celebrate community heroes.

London Met, Lavazza, and Arsenal help Islington residents to Learn To Dream at community event

The ‘Learn To Dream’ event, held in collaboration with the prestigious coffee company and world-renowned football club, was a roaring success.

Dr Torange Khonsari features on Design Council's podcast

Dr Khonsari one of the first guests on the Design for Planet Fellowship podcast.

Time to Rethink Archaic Ideas of Masculinity and Fatherhood

Kevin Brazant, London Met Academic Mentor and University Teaching Fellow discusses his recent work changing mindsets around masculinity, fatherhood, and beyond.

London Met researcher helps to launch Taskforce on Inequality in Islington Final Report

Course Leader Torange Khonsari has helped the Islington Inequality Taskforce to launch the Inequality in Islington Final Report.

London Met signs partnership agreement with music charity Musiko Musika

The partnership, coordinated by the London Met Lab: Empowering London, is part of the University’s commitment to giving back to the city.

London Met joins Islington Anchor Institution Network as founding member

The network of employers and key organisations will work together to reduce inequalities and help build a thriving local economy in the Borough.

Strategy spotlight: the power of local

Professor Lynn Dobbs, Vice-Chancellor of London Met, explains why working locally is so important to the University's organisational mission.

London Met's Sophie Cloutterbuck made Chair of London Higher Civic Network

London Higher is the representative body for higher education in London. Its Civic Network highlights the vital role of the capital’s universities in benefitting local communities.

Showcasing the civic university

The London Met Lab was highlighted in the Civic University Network showcase, following recent praise for its 'new high standard' by Deputy Mayor of London, Jules Pipe CBE.

London Met supports Islington Living Wage campaign

The University, which has been committed to paying the London Living Wage since 2014, joins the campaign to make Islington North London’s first Living Wage Borough.

Why student engagement is the key to a civic university

Sophie Cloutterbuck writes for the Civic University Network on the role London Met plays as a civic institution, which also gives students opportunities to become value-driven leaders.

Celebrating the successes of London Met Lab and Centre for Equity & Inclusion

An anniversary event was held to celebrate the first year of the University's major civic engagement initiative, the London Met Lab, and its sector-leading Centre for Equity & Inclusion

Project spotlight: developing a public health framework around youth knife crime

Hackney Council and London Metropolitan University have formed a partnership to offer a range of programmes to improve employment opportunities for students across the borough.

Staff spotlight: Vanessa Airth

London Met's Head of Work-Based Learning, Policy and Practice discusses the determination of students to make positive change, and the importance of value-driven work.

Staff spotlight: Lucy Li

London Met's Civic and Community Engagement Development Officer, Lucy Li, discusses the highlights and importance of the London Met Lab: Empowering London initiative.

Student spotlight: Sancia Williams

Sancia's podcast provides a platform for care leavers and people with care experience to share their stories.

Empowering London: a work-based learning module

Hear from Vanessa Airth, Head of Work-Based Learning at London Met, about opportunities to work with the local community as part of your course.

Level 5 Module - Empowering London: Working within the Community

A new innovative module combining work-based learning and a radical model of critical and transformative citizenship.

Level 6 Module - Empowering London: Working within the Community

This module has been developed to allow you to work intensively with a London community project/organisation in order to identify and address a challenge they face.

Minding the privilege gap

Three of London Met’s senior leaders joined former Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Justine Greening, on her podcast ‘Fit for Purpose’.

International Women’s Day: interview with community leader Sarah Haid

Sarah discusses her work with the London Met Lab and London Met's students and the women who've inspired her.

Celebrating innovation and excellence in Islington education

The University was proud to sponsor the Teacher of the Year category at the third annual Islington Education Awards.

About London Met Lab London Met Lab