Yesterday, the Patchwork Foundation’s Get Involved programme came to life across London on Polling Day 2026 — but the story began long before the polls opened.
Between March and May 2026, Patchworkers took part in three canvassing sessions, joining candidates from across the political spectrum. They canvassed with Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in Redbridge; with Kevin Hollinrake, Chair of the Conservative Party; and with Patchwork’s own alumnus Usaama Kaweesa in Merton, where he was standing for re-election as a local councillor.
On polling day itself, Patchworkers from our Ascend, Emerge, Spark, Weave, and Alumni cohorts came out in force — supporting candidates from Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and Green in wards spanning Merton, Lambeth, Camden, Greenwich, Islington, Hounslow, and beyond. The day ran across three sessions — 10am to 1pm, 1pm to 5pm, and 5pm to 8pm — with over 35 Patchworkers taking part in total.
This is the Get Involved programme in action: not telling young people what to think, but equipping them to engage — and trusting them to do so on their own terms.
We are enormously grateful to Wes, Kevin, and Usaama for welcoming Patchworkers into their campaigns, and immensely proud of every Patchworker who gave their time this spring.
