01
No room to study
1 in 4 children in London lack adequate study space at home, and overcrowded children see up to a 16% reduction in academic performance. In Southwark alone, over 1 in 5 children live in overcrowded homes.
About us
Activating the space that's already there.
Room Too exists to give young people in Southwark aged 15–19 access to free, calm study and social spaces, because many don't have a private, quiet place to study or socialise at home.
Our mission & vision
Our mission is to repurpose underutilised spaces and transform them into rooms of opportunity.
Our vision is a future where every young person has access to the room they need to learn, grow and thrive, regardless of their housing situation.
That's what makes Room Too lean, fast to set up in a new area, and a world away from the cost of a traditional bricks-and-mortar charity.
The problem we respond to
Three problems. Each one evidenced, not assumed.
02
Nowhere to just be
Young people in overcrowded homes have no private corner to rest, think or socialise. Late-night study on a sofa, or locking yourself in the bathroom for quiet, becomes normal. The mental and emotional toll is real.
03
Limited exposure, limited aspiration
Without access to inspiring environments or informal contact with professionals, young people from overcrowded homes have fewer chances to see what's possible. The aspiration gap widens over time, not narrows.
These map onto Room Too's three impact areas, educational, wellbeing and aspirational, drawn directly from our founder's Making Room research with young people, parents and professionals.
Our story
Started by someone who lived it.
Room Too was founded by 19-year-old Oluferanmi (Olu) Balogun, who grew up in a two-bedroom flat with a large family and often studied in the bathroom to find quiet.
That experience became the starting point for Room Too: a model that turns underused community spaces into quiet, creative zones for young people who need them most. Olu co-designed the initiative with over 20 young people, parents and professionals, and secured support from the local council and initial funding to get the first pilot sites open in Southwark.
Room Too has since been recognised nationally, including the Big Change Bright Sparks Award, a finalist place at the Conduit Innovator Awards, and the Top People's Choice Award at The Conduit.