PLACELAB

Building community power in Scunthorpe

Across four PlaceLABs to date, we’ve brought together over 250 people; connecting local voices, sparking ideas, and turning pride in Scunthorpe into action.


PlaceLABs are Scunthorpe Tomorrow’s open, welcoming events designed to do three things:


  • Build connections between people who care about the town
  • Drive action by turning conversation into real commitments
  • Changing the narrative: celebrating what’s strong here and what’s possible next


They’re deliberately practical and people-led: part panel, part discussion, part “what can I do next?” moment; with attendees leaving not just inspired, but better connected and clearer on how they can play a part.

Our PlaceLab story so far

PLACELAB1 - Oct 2024

Oasis Community Space, Crosby

Our first PlaceLAB brought together more than 70 people to explore what Scunthorpe means, share different perspectives, and start shaping what building connections and changing the narrative looks like in practice.


Highlights included:


  • A panel conversation with Scunthorpe Tomorrow members, sharing lived experience and local insight.
  • Breakout discussions focused on connection, action and narrative change.
  • Individual pledges for action — from sharing Scunthorpe Tomorrow with a friend to offers to host future events and support the working group.
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PLACELAB2 - Feb 2025

Attis Arena

PlaceLAB 2 built momentum, bringing 80 people together to spotlight local strengths and create new opportunities through collaboration; across businesses, organisations and individuals.


Key moments included:


  • A panel featuring local institutions (including Community VISION, Scunthorpe Rugby, Scunthorpe United and UCNL).
  • Discussions imagining what Scunthorpe could look like in 2040.
  • A powerful set of pledges for action, showing a growing shift from “what should they do?” to “what can I do?”.
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PLACELAB4 - Oct 2025

Heslam Park

PlaceLAB4 marked a clear step-change in confidence and agency: the tone moved from “ideas” to ownership; people actively discussing how to build momentum, support one another, and make change happen in the town.


Themes included:


  • community-led change and personal agency
  • the role of education in Scunthorpe’s future — including a panel and contributions from UCNL staff and students
  • a strong “why not here?” mindset: ambition rooted in local pride
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The impact

What PlaceLabs have enabled

Across the series, PlaceLABs have helped:


  • Make community action visible: highlighting the people and organisations already doing the work
  • Connect the dots: creating relationships that continue beyond the room
  • Build belief and agency: growing the sense that change doesn’t have to be “done to” Scunthorpe, it can be shaped by Scunthorpe
  • Turn pride into commitment: through pledges, follow-on conversations and practical next steps



This matters because long-term change relies on more than funding or strategies. It needs an active community with the confidence, connections and capacity to act.

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Four placelabs to date



Over ~250 people engaged across the series


Events typically bringing 50-80+ people into the room for panels, discussion and action pledges


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What's next?

PlaceLABs are one part of a bigger journey: building a stronger civic culture where local people, organisations and institutions collaborate for the good of the town; and where ambition feels normal.



We’ll continue to bring people together, capture ideas, and support the conversations that turn into action.

Get in touch