Blackbird Leys is home to more than 13,000 people and one of largest housing estates in England. In May 2009, the Young Foundation was asked by The Wates Foundation to look into previous attempts at regeneration and priorities for the estate. As part of this project we talked to residents and representatives of community organisations working on the ground. Through hearing about their experiences we built a picture of life on the estate.

We presented our findings to the Wates Foundation in July 2009. A copy of those findings can be found here.

Subsequent to the report being prepared for The Wates Foundation, the Foundation commissioned the recommended follow‐on work at the Leys, specifically the mapping exercise and the review of training/re‐skilling provision for adults. This work was carried out in early autumn 2009.