Big Experiences for Little Londoners
Claire Lawson won a night aboard A Room for London in June 2012 with an idea for giving primary children in London a richer experience of the city in which they live.
What's your idea?
My idea is to give London primary school children the opportunity to really experience the city that they live in. Once a month a child will be offered a unique experience for free. They will recount their experience using an online scrapbook with pictures, photos and a write up of what they got up to. The idea is quite simple - I want to share my love of London with the little Londoners!
When were the first seeds of the idea sown?
I am a primary school teacher in central London and I was shocked by the limited experiences that many of the children have. I wanted to think of a way to share London with them and provide free experiences that would inspire them. I grew up in London and I know that many of my early experiences in the city have shaped my view of it now.
Who have you invited to dinner in A Room for London to help develop the idea?
I am inviting people that can help me to make some tough decisions on how best to get this idea off the ground. I would love to find some people to support me with this idea going forward as being a primary school teacher, it's a steep learning curve!
What single thing would you like to happen that evening to help your idea get off the ground?
To make this work, I am going to need some great business contacts - people that can donate experiences or money. I'd love to meet someone that could either point me in the right direction or be in a position to help me themselves.
How would you describe your relationship to London?
I'm a Londoner born and bred and at this point in my life, there's nowhere else I'd rather be! I love discovering new places and I know that there's even more out there in this great city for myself and others to experience.
How are you feeling about spending the night on board?
I can't wait! I am really lucky to win in June because hopefully I'll get to watch the sun set from the upper deck on a balmy summer evening. I've always fancied a riverside residence and this is most likely the closest I'll ever get to it!