The Portal Trust supports CCAC co-design expansion across Inner London Boroughs

Proposals to mitigate and overcome a flooded Clapham envisaged by a child team at Clapham Manor Primary School, London. Notice the school is centre stage.

The Portal Trust and CCAC are collaborating to launch a new London primary school cluster in 2026.

CCAC’s partnerships with primary schools to date have largely been opportunistic. Whilst this has produced brilliant and rewarding co-design projects in primary schools across the country, we need to ensure that the most diverse and underserved schools are benefitting from the same opportunity. Inclusivity and diversity are critical to CCAC’s mission.

We are delighted that The Portal Trust has committed to assisting this objective. Together, we will establish a four-school cluster in the fourteen Inner London Boroughs they support, expanding our co-design programme to four diverse primary schools in the capital. The process will be closely monitored and reviewed to allow us to synthesise CCAC’s approach to finding schools and securing co-design programmes in the future. We intend to use this launch to further consolidate and expand our school coverage and set a precedent for similar CCAC hubs in other UK cities.

Children at The Bemrose Primary School creating designs as part of their co-design project with architect Polly North titled ‘Farms of the Future’.

The Portal Trust supports great ideas that empower young people in London to discover their full potential. As a charity, it funds, supports and contributes to organisations, groups and individuals that deliver impactful educational opportunities. With over 270 years of experience, it is one of London’s leading educational charities. CCAC is grateful for The Portal Trust’s support and looks forward to working together to deliver inclusive, impactful and innovative educational opportunities.

Schools and designers will be assembled in autumn 2025 and the new co-design projects launched in Spring 2026.