On Tuesday 13 September, The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust held the 16th Annual Memorial Lecture at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Attended by over 300 guests, the theme of the evening was 'The Role of Community in Architecture'.

The evening was introduced by Jane Duncan, President of the RIBA, followed by a poignant opening speech by Stuart Lawrence, Stephen’s brother, who provided insight into their happy childhood growing up in the diverse and welcoming community of Woolwich.

The event was chaired by Scott Brownrigg’s CEO Darren Comber. Speakers included RIBA gold medalists Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey, Elsie Owusu OBE (Architect and founding member of the Society of Black Architects), Professor Bob Sheil (Director of The Bartlett School of Architecture) and Kibwe Tavares, who initially trained as an architect and is now an award-winning film director.

Scott Brownrigg has supported The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust for the last six years. The charity was set up in 1998 as a national educational charity committed to the advancement of social justice as well as promoting architecture and the creative industries to young people, particularly from ethnic minorities. To date the Trust has awarded over 100 architectural and landscape bursaries.

Scott Brownrigg’s support for and involvement with the Trust includes: providing students with first-hand experience of life in its busy architectural studio via work placements and mentoring programmes; coaching on interview techniques and CV preparation and the annual exhibition.

The practice is committed to supporting the next generation of architects, and through the Trust has provided guidance, encouragement and employment to many bursary students.