South Ken ZEN+ Phase 1 (2023-2025) Evaluation

PROGRAMME EVALUATION 2025

As Phase 1 of the South Ken ZEN+ Programme concludes in March, we reflect on the impact our partnership has made in the last three years.

The South Ken ZEN+ Programme has showed how collective action can accelerate progress towards becoming a zero-emissions, nature-positive and climate-resilient neighbourhood. 

Our Evaluation consultants, PRD, have done a retrospective desk-based assessment of the impact we have achieved since the Programme was started in 2023.

Download the executive summary here

Download the full 2025 Programme Evaluation Report here

Member Activities and Capacity-building

We've generated over £110k of Social Value through training and events since 2022. Our members have provided around 690 days of in-kind support - which is conservatively estimated to be equivalent to around £250,000.

We have also collected over 45 local case studies of climate-focused actions undertaken by our member organisations, which you can read here on our website.

We've enabled our members to work together on areas of mutual interest, to build resources, capacity and research that are of benefit to everyone.  Our South Ken ZEN+ Supply Chain Charter is a great example of this, as it the Carbon Literacy Training we've been rolling out across the neighbourhood.

Emissions Monitoring and Reporting

Over the past two years, we've been collecting emissions data from our members - marking the first time emissions data has been gathered on a neighbourhood level.  Through this support, 75% of our organisations have particpated in tracking and reporting their Greenhouse Gas emissions.  And we helped 9 of our members estabish their first - ever - Carbon baselines.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

From 2024 to 2025 alone, we delivered over 40 walking tours, engaging more than 500 local staff, students, residents and visitors. In total, more than 20,000 locals from 100+ organisations have been engaged about climate change issues. 

Funding and Resources Mobilisation

We've secured £370k in in additional grants for joint projects. This includes £50,000 from the Future Observatory in 2023 for the development of the South Ken ZEN+ Emissions Reporting Framework, and over £300K from the Greater London Authority and Royal Commission for the Great Exhibition of 1851 to explore the feasibility and of establishing a decarbonised Heat and Energy network in South Kensington.

What's Next?

To sustain our impact, we will continue supporting South Kensington's journey towards becoming a zero-emissions, nature-positive and climate-resilient neighbourhood.  Our funder, the Royal Commission for 1851, has generoualy awarded us core costs to get to 2030.

Through continued collaboration with our member organisations, we will continue to increase neighbourhood momentum and encourage behavioural changes in South Kensington, demonstrating the power of place-based collaboration in addressing global sustainability challenges.

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