our Story
LIFE*SPIN is a registered charity that has led programming in London for over 25 years. We started out in 1989 as a group of sole-support mothers trying to do what they could to help alleviate poverty within the community. These ladies weren’t just looking for a quick fix.
Their personal experiences and collective passions led LIFE*SPIN on their search for long-term, strategic solutions to the systemic problem of poverty. Building community foundations for self-reliance has been the vision of our development.
To us, Self-reliance, as an organization, is about challenging unfair, legislation and injustice, building hope, and creating community spaces where people can work together. LIFE*SPIN has stood the test of time and always challenged the status quo.
As a Community Economic Development (CED) organization, our programs are all geared towards enhancing the lives of low-income families through education, advocacy, and community-building. In addition to providing front-line services for mediation, referrals for services, homelessness prevention programs, and public legal education resources, we have launched an Affordable Housing Investment Fund to fund solutions beyond emergency relief of poverty.
Our Team Encapsulates Community in its Truest Definition…
LIFE*SPIN is overseen by Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder, Jacqueline Thompson and long-time member and Co-Executive Director Meagen Ciufo. LIFE*SPIN’s vision of alleviating poverty and fostering equality has been shared with countless volunteers and staff over the years.
The team at LIFE*SPIN has created a unique community, wherein, every individual resonates bountiful qualities of compassion and caring for others. Each team member that has been part of the community has a remarkable story to tell, of how LIFE*SPIN has positively impacted their lives. LIFE*SPIN acknowledges the barriers that everyone may face and everyone within this space works to provide a safe and welcoming place to learn, grown and receive a "hand up" without judgement.
LIFE*SPIN recognizes that poverty is systemic, and we want to provide programs and resources that are geared towards enhancing the lives of low-income families through education, advocacy, and community building.
Woodman Disaster Relief Fund
Following the August 14, 2019 Woodman Avenue gas line explosion in Old East Village (OEV), a fund was established to support those affected. Built on strong community partnerships, the fund has been utilized over the past four years to help individuals and households impacted by the incident. With funds remaining, a grant program was initiated to benefit the OEV neighbourhood.
The grants were open to organizations working on housing, mental health, and development initiatives within Old East Village in the vicinity of Woodman Avenue. Five grants were awarded to programs, services and projects, which will benefit the community, between Adelaide and Charlotte Streets with consideration specifically to Woodman Avenue- located between Quebec and Charlotte. An additional grant was awarded to facilitate a community block-party on Woodman Avenue, in hopes of reinvigorating the neighbourhood, following the isolation of Covid. Organizations were required to be qualified donees and have the capacity to utilize the grant entirely by no later than December 31, 2024.
Grant Recipients
Aeolian Hall Musical Arts Association: Strengthening Pride Community
Indwell: Community Connections at Embassy Commons
London InterCommunity Health Centre: OEV Connect
London InterCommunity Health Centre: OEV Block Party 2024, working with Boyle Activity Council
Regional HIV/AIDS Connection: Peer Powered Woodman/OEV Community Development
Unity Project: Human Resources for Health and Housing
Our lovely gathering Place
The Living Room is an accessible community resource space in the Old East Heritage District. We host several community group events and gatherings throughout the year. As the CED Housing Initiative becomes more sustainable, we are able to offer more space to the community for programming important to the basic quality of life for our neighbours who struggle in poverty. The programs are designed and operated by the community.
Old East Common
LIFE*SPIN moved to our current location in 2005. We started the “Building Common Grounds Project” in 2006 to provide community green space in the Old East neighbourhood.
Green spaces serve as gathering places to interact with neighbours. This heritage garden gives more than 3,000 people in this neighbourhood a green space and a play area for their families and themselves to spend time. Providing a sense of community and ownership.