Islington Council's Executive has approved the We Are Cally Plan 2025-2028 , a community development strategy for the Caledonian Road area, at a meeting on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

The plan, co-produced with local stakeholders, outlines shared ambitions and actions to build on local strengths and foster collaboration between residents, the voluntary and community sector, and public agencies. It supports the five missions of the Islington Together 2030 Plan, focusing on themes such as children and young people, health and wellbeing, the high street, and housing.

A street scene under a railway bridge with 'THE CALLY' painted on its side, depicting a typical urban environment.
The Cally area.

Funding and Budget

The We Are Cally Plan is funded through Community Infrastructure Levy contributions secured until March 2027. Islington Council will invest an additional £1.25 million over the next few years, supplemented by a £350,000 grant from the Greater London Authority as part of the Good Growth Fund. The plan also includes a We Are Cally Community Fund which will provide grants of up to £500 for resident groups and allocate funds to established local charities. See the full report here.

Key Initiatives

  • Community Greening and Growing: Residents will be encouraged to plant in their local areas, with support from the Cally Festival and Islington Council, which will distribute bulbs and seed bombs. A Greening Cally group will be formed to identify further spaces for greening and plan implementation. Residents can also participate in community planting at Barnsbury Wood Nature Reserve and along the Regent's Canal. The plan also aims to support community gardening groups by helping them identify spaces for growing, access compost and water, develop planting plans, and secure funding. However, specific criteria for project selection or application processes are not detailed.

  • Park Improvements: Plans are in place to consult with residents on improvements to Barnard Park and Bingfield Park. Barnard Park will be re-established as an attractive community space with a new nine-aside football pitch, additional sports facilities including an outdoor gym and running paths, and a new building for changing rooms, toilets, and the One O'Clock Club. Bingfield Park will be redesigned with enhanced landscaping and planting to improve its appeal and biodiversity, featuring upgraded play and sports facilities, particularly for younger children. Resident consultations for these improvements are scheduled as part of the design and planning process, though specific timelines are not yet detailed.

  • Health and Wellbeing Services: The plan includes strengthening social prescribing services and facilitating networking events for local organisations to share learning and coordinate support. See performance metrics for health services here.

  • High Street Support: A dedicated Local Economy Officer will support local businesses, and a Shop Local campaign will be launched to boost footfall. The feasibility of establishing a street market is also being explored. The council's Inclusive Economy team will collaborate with the Cally Trader's Association and local businesses to run the Shop Local campaign, utilising targeted social media to encourage residents from Barnsbury to shop on Caledonian Road. Furthermore, a partnership with 'Near Street' will enable high street businesses to increase online trade by allowing customers searching for products online to see local stock availability. The method for measuring the campaign's success has not been specified.

  • Employability Support: A new youth employability hub will open at West Library in winter 2021/2022. This hub will offer a range of services and activities for young people, including employability support, adult learning, advice and guidance, counselling, and support for those involved in or affected by gang activity. Young people from the area will contribute to the hub's design, with two young people from Copenhagen Youth Project serving as youth consultants. Eligibility requirements for young people are not specified, beyond being from the area and potentially being referred by local organisations or having experience of the youth justice system.

  • Community Spaces: Revitalisation of community centres, including Jean Stokes Community Centre, Nailor Hall, York Way, and Westbourne Community Centres, is planned to provide attractive and well-managed spaces for activities and services. For Jean Stokes Community Centre, the plan involves redesigning it into a drop-in, multi-purpose hub with improved ground floor spaces and a community living room at the front, while the disused basement will house voluntary sector organisations. Improvements to Nailor Hall, York Way, and Westbourne Community Centres are scheduled between April 2021 and March 2023, including renovations to kitchens and entrances, and upgrades to heating and lighting. Specific enhancements for York Way Community Centre include upgraded toilets and kitchen.

  • Resident Involvement: The plan encourages community-led action, volunteering opportunities, and strengthening Tenants and Residents Associations to improve local areas and services.

    A person waves from a window, symbolizing community engagement and resident involvement.
    Community engagement.

Governance

The plan's governance is overseen by the We Are Cally Group, chaired by Caledonian Ward Councillors. This group brings together cross-sector partners to monitor delivery and coordinate responses, aiming to build on local assets and foster a stronger sense of community and belonging in the Cally area. Terms of Reference for the We Are Cally Group can be found here.

You can view the full We Are Cally Plan 2025-2028 here.

Minutes of the Executive meeting are available here.