Build Your Own Sustainable Household System

Build Your Own Sustainable Household System is a free, hands-on family workshop delivered by the UCL Centre for Systems Engineering. Families with children aged 8 to 14 work together to design a household, create rules for how it operates, and explore the real-life costs of their choices in terms of money and effort. During the session, families respond to changing circumstances such as rising energy costs or reduced access to local services, adapting their household plans and working together to make informed decisions. The workshop concludes with participants voting on different solution-focused manifestos and reflecting on how communities and households can become more resilient in the face of challenges.

This event focuses on how families experience money, finance, and the cost of living in their everyday lives. Participants will explore household finances through practical decisions around energy use, transport, food, leisure, and saving, areas that are central to current pressures on household budgets.

By simulating rising costs, price shocks, and unexpected expenses, the activity helps families understand why the cost of living has such a strong impact even when people try to budget carefully. It highlights key financial concepts such as trade‑offs, affordability, short‑term versus long‑term costs, and financial resilience in a way that is accessible to both adults and children.

The event also aims to ground discussions of money and finance in lived experience rather than abstract theory. Families will leave with a clearer understanding of how interconnected financial decisions shape household outcomes, why some households are more vulnerable to rising costs than others, and why broader economic changes matter in everyday family life.

This workshop benefits the local community by:
- Encouraging families to learn together through a fun and interactive activity.
- Helping children and adults develop problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
- Increasing awareness of sustainability, resource management and the impact of external challenges such as rising costs and service changes.
- Promoting discussions about resilience, community wellbeing and practical ways households can adapt to social, economic and environmental pressures.
- Providing free, accessible educational engagement for local families, supporting learning outside of school and strengthening community connections.

Sayara Beg, Lecturer in UCL's Centre for Systems Engineering

This event is open to families with children aged 8–14, including parents, carers, and guardians. No prior knowledge of economics, finance, or social science is required, and participation is free and open to anyone within this age group and their accompanying adults.

The event is designed particularly for families who are interested in exploring everyday decisions about spending, saving, and managing household resources, including those who may be experiencing the challenges of rising living costs. However, attendance is not limited to families facing financial pressures, and all families with children aged 8–14 are welcome.

The activities are designed to be inclusive and accessible for participants from a wide range of backgrounds, including those who may not normally engage with universities, research, or formal learning environments. No specialist qualifications, professional experience, or technical knowledge are needed.

The format can also be adapted for delivery with primary and lower secondary school pupils during school-day sessions.

Families with children aged 8–14, including parents, carers, and guardians

Drop-in Activity

Weekday 1 (Tue 27 Oct): 13.30 to 14.30, then 15.30 to 16.30

Weekday 2 (Thu 29 Oct): 10.30 to 11.30, then 12.30 to 13.30

Saturday 31 October: 11:00 to 12.30, then 14.00 to 15.30