Turning community
vision into reality.
I help communities, local authorities and social enterprises turn ambitious ideas into practical, financially viable programmes for lasting change.
Building power
for change.
For over 20 years, I’ve worked where community ambition, public service and development meet.
Motivated by the linked crises of climate change and inequality, I help people “remake the way we make things”. My experience spans community engagement, large-scale regeneration, resident participation, grant making and social value.
Having co-founded a community land trust and helped deliver 36 mixed-tenure affordable homes on a complex London site, I understand both the vision and the detail needed to make change happen. More recently, I’ve retrained in Mathematics and Statistics, bringing financial modelling and viability testing into the same conversation.
with communities
delivered with RUSS
secured for the project
members
“Kareem has a real ability to connect community needs with development ambitions.”Stephanie Edwards
Director, Urban Symbiotics
Ideas made
tangible.
Rural Urban Synthesis Society
I co-founded RUSS, a community land trust that has delivered London’s largest self-build community-led housing scheme to date: 36 shared ownership, council and affordable rented homes.
I built relationships with the local authority and social investors, raised over £300k in grants, helped secure more than £6m in senior lending, and led community engagement through RIBA stages 0–3.
Be First
Led community engagement for a complex shopping-centre regeneration in Dagenham, coordinating residents, businesses and local organisations across three planning applications.
Managed a budget of over £300k and helped reshape the company’s social value methodology and offer.
Creative Coding Collective
Co-designed a programme with young people in South London, teaching the foundations of web app development and programming to people at risk of exclusion and from under-represented backgrounds.
Connected trainees with employers, internships and paid work, then created a certified theory of change and evaluated long-term impact.
British Science Association
As Community Engagement Manager, coordinated a UKRI-funded programme supporting community-led research in collaboration with the University of Reading.
Lewisham Changemakers
Established a social enterprise accelerator for local residents while working with Lewisham Housing. Its first year raised over £147k in grants and social value contributions.
“Kareem is a rare example of a strategic thinker who combines a deep understanding of both the arts and sciences, creating work that blends imagination and evidence to effect lasting change.”
Kirsty Collander-Brown
CEO, The Somerville
Formerly Head of Engagement, The Albany
From first conversation to lasting impact.
01 — Engage & co-design
Inclusive processes that turn lived experience into shared direction.
- Community and resident engagement
- Planning and statutory consultation
- Co-design and community leadership
- Youth and STEM engagement
- Workshops and group facilitation
02 — Plan & prove
Clear evidence, robust models and practical plans that support confident decisions.
- Financial modelling and viability testing
- Theory of Change
- Social impact evaluation and SROI
- Social enterprise business planning
- Governance and fundraising
03 — Deliver & evaluate
Hands-on programme leadership from mobilisation through to measurable outcomes.
- Project and programme management
- Social value planning and reporting
- Participatory grant making
- Community-led housing consultancy
- Impact evaluation
04 — Connect sectors
Advice that helps public, private and third-sector partners work together effectively.
- Public-sector collaboration
- Third-sector collaboration
- Community organising
- Public speaking
- Strategic facilitation
Let’s make
change happen.
Have a challenge that needs community insight, strategic thinking and practical delivery? Tell me a little about your project and I’ll get back to you.
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