A striking new exhibition, the Museum of Broken Dreams, opened in Parliament today.
The Museum tells the stories of community-led projects that could have transformed lives but never reached their potential. These projects weren’t held back by a lack of ideas or dedication, but by a system that makes it difficult for community initiatives to succeed. The Museum has been designed by the We’re Right Here campaign for community power, which The Young Foundation proudly supports.
Timed to coincide with the second reading of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (on 2 September 2025), the exhibition highlights the urgency of passing legislation that could finally shift power to local communities and unlock solutions to some of the country’s most pressing challenges.
Our Director of Innovation and Practice, Dan Farag notes, “The Museum of Broken Dreams is a powerful reminder of the often-untapped talent, energy and imagination that exists in every community – and of the barriers that too often prevent local people from shaping their own futures. At The Young Foundation we see, every day, the talent and determination of communities to tackle the challenges they face, and that are important to them. What they need is practical support, and a system that backs them, not blocks them. This Bill is a critical opportunity to reset the relationship with communities, and to ensure that across the country people have the power, support and resources to turn their ideas into reality.”
Polling commissioned by the campaign earlier this year found that 70% of UK adults believe that local residents and community groups have ideas and skills that could improve the local community. However, 84% feel they have ‘no or not much’ control over the decisions that affect their neighbourhood.
MPs can experience the Museum until 4 September 2025, encountering stories from across England local projects and the barriers they face when the system isn’t on their side. From community-led housing solutions to arts and cultural centres, these stories capture the creativity, determination, and resilience of local communities.
Roz Savage MP, sponsor of the exhibition, said: “It is such an honour to be sponsoring the Museum of Broken Dreams. This is not just an exhibition – it’s a mirror, a challenge, and an invitation. A mirror of what has gone wrong, a challenge to do better, and an invitation to imagine what could yet be. I want to see broken dreams turned into living realities. Now is the perfect opportunity to restore faith, unite around a shared vision, and show the world what hope can do.”
Examples of broken dreams showcased in the Museum include:
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The garden that never grew: A community organisation in Gipton, East Leeds, was approached by the council to create a joyful, shared community garden where residents could grow food, gather, and host events, and the idea gathered lots of momentum. The dream fell apart for lots of reasons including poor communication between council departments. Residents were left disheartened and trust in the council shaken.
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The skatepark that hit a crack: In Greenwich, London, the council identified a disused patch of land as a space that could be utilised for connection, as shared spaces that bring local people together were becoming increasingly scarce. A social enterprise developed a vision, drawing on successes in Peckham, Lewisham and Lambeth, to create a safe inter-generational skate-hub where creativity, sport and collaboration could meet real local needs. The land was put out to tender, instead of offering the community a chance to take ownership of the space, resulting in its acquisition by a private developer. More than a year on, the site sits idle.
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A housing solution without a home: Nudge Community Builders in Plymouth planned to turn one of its buildings into an apartment block offering affordable, supported housing for young people navigating housing and employment on their own, with benefits such as employment readiness training, access to community resources, and shared ground-floor spaces for community support, integrating young adults into local life. With Homes England funding only accessible to bigger registered housing providers and the council prioritising other plans, the project sits in limbo.
Claude Hendrickson MBE, We’re Right Here Campaign Leader and a Museum storyteller, said: “The story I shared in this exhibition shows both what’s possible when communities are trusted, and how easily opportunities can be shut down. Sadly, mine is just one of many stories across the country with a similar ending. For every ‘yes’ communities get, there are a million ‘no’s – and that can be hugely discouraging for local people who simply want to make their places better. As a We’re Right Here campaign leader, I believe it’s vital these stories are told because they show why we need a system that finally listens to and supports communities, that are perfectly capable, to shape the places they love.”
Rich Bell, We’re Right Here Campaign Director, said: “It’s heartbreaking to see so many brilliant community projects that could have changed lives but never got the chance. These stories show the human cost of a system that sidelines local people, even when they have the skills and vision to make a difference. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put community voice at the heart of the devolution agenda. If we get this right, we can unlock the creativity and energy that already exists in every town and neighbourhood across the country.”
The Museum of Broken Dreams is both a sobering reminder of opportunities lost and a hopeful call to action. By unlocking the power of local people through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, the government has the chance to ensure that future community projects aren’t broken before they begin.
You can explore an online version of the Museum here.
Invite your MP to see the Museum here.
Community Community assets Community leadership Community needs and priorities Community wellbeing Education and employment Housing and regeneration Local government and public services community empowerment community power english devolution local councils We're Right Here Posted on: 1 September 2025