CHALK Island is a cultural, heritage and creative CIC founded by Jess Huffman and Emma Molony. We deliver community‑led placemaking projects. We work with organisations, local authorities and communities to create meaningful ways for people to connect with place - through heritage, landscape, storytelling and creative practice.

What we do

We design and deliver projects that combine community engagement, creative production and heritage research. Our work typically includes:

• Collecting and documenting local stories through oral history interviews and research

• Designing and delivering creative workshops and public engagement programmes

• Producing exhibitions, events, talks and community activities

• Commissioning artists, photographers and filmmakers to create high‑quality creative outputs

• Developing maps, trails, publications and interpretation materials

• Creating digital archives and legacy resources that remain accessible long after projects end

What we offer

We offer a flexible range of services that support organisations to deliver social value, cultural engagement and place‑based projects:

Project delivery

End‑to‑end management of heritage and placemaking projects - from concept and funding through to delivery, evaluation and legacy outputs.

Community engagement programmes

Structured programmes of workshops, events and activities that engage residents, schools and community groups.

Creative production

Commissioning and producing photography, film, exhibitions and creative materials that make projects visible and accessible.

Consultancy

Advice and support on:

• Oral history and participatory heritage

• Community engagement strategy

• Project design and delivery

• Measuring impact and evaluation

Social value partnerships

We work with businesses and developers to design and deliver measurable social value activity, including:

• Volunteering programmes

• Education and skills opportunities

• Community events and wellbeing activities

• Environmental and place‑based initiatives

What we deliver

Our projects produce practical, high‑quality outputs, such as:

• Community archives of stories, images and research

• Heritage trails, maps and interpretation for residents and visitors

• Exhibitions, events and public programmes

• Educational resources for schools and local groups

• Publications, reports and digital content

• Clear evaluation and impact reporting for funders and partners

Who we work with

We work across sectors, including:

• Local authorities and public sector organisations

• Housing developers and infrastructure projects

• Heritage organisations, museums and galleries

• Schools, universities and community groups

• Landscape and environmental organisations

Our approach

We bring together local knowledge, creative practice and strong project management to deliver work that is:

• Community‑led and inclusive

• Grounded in real places and lived experience

• Creatively ambitious and visually engaging

• Structured, measurable and outcome‑focused