New voice for Londoners

Described as an independent civic movement for London, the project is getting groups together across the capital to discuss their experiences of living in the city. Groups are already running in Richmond and Twickenham. Mind the Gap aims to make sure their views are heard by all the mayoral candidates in the run-up to the election in June.

Co-ordinator James Morris says Mind the Gap aims to give Londoners a way to do something about the city for themselves independently of the professional politicians.

Small groups are meeting across London with people coming together as friends, families, and workmates in schools, offices, hospitals, churches and sports clubs. They are discussing issues such as safety, crime, transport and culture, sorting out what they want for London, then picking the best ideas from the other groups.

Mind the Gap refers to the gaps that exist in the city; the gap between the promises of improvements to London's transport system and the daily grind of getting about, or between the politicians' talk of safer streets and the reality of walking through rubbish-strewn neighbourhoods whilst witnessing bad or threatening behaviour.

Coordinator James Morris said: "It is a people-driven movement, the groups are what is new, different and most important about Mind the Gap. Out of the real, personal stories and experiences and a shared will to make change happen hopefully ideas will come for solutions to some of London's problems which at present we're not confident the professional politicians will sort out."

A full report will be published shortly, but early findings indicate that London's inhabitants are more open to radical solutions, more willing to tackle problems in new ways and more disillusioned with the main political parties than had previously been thought.

To find out more, visit the website on www.mindthegaplondon.co.uk