What if? is an ideas collective and commons with a home and a heart in Stockport.

Here, we’re reclaiming the site of an unused and uncared for Victorian infant school once known as ‘Hollywood Mission’ and resetting it for the future with a new purpose and a community powered vision.

Rooted in Edgeley, the building, garden and wider site are within view of Hollywood Park and Towers, nestled in an area once known as Brinksway, a few minutes stroll from Stockport Town Centre.

It is now joyfully and steadily re-emerging as a community space with the conditions being nurtured for radical rest and play, care and collective imagination.

We’re creating a place where people come together to test ideas, practice making good things happen, and reimagine what our neighbourhoods can be through the lens of hope, preparedness and adaptation when we have right conditions to nurture the freedom to think, to choose and to thrive in our communities.

From hands-on gardening and build sessions, creative gatherings and film nights to neighbourhood socials, bike rides and gentle park strolls What if? is bringing people together to:

Prototype new ideas and missions that grow social and climate resilience

Incubate and host creative, thoughtful and playful activities that connect people and place across strengths and differences

Nurture rest and reflection as essential parts of neighbourhood care and whole community wellbeing.

We’re doing all of this at the pace of trust building, working with everyone who wants to get behind the idea.

We’re having fun, hosting fun, sharing our skills and cultures, learning new tools for the future and lessons from the past and most importantly, everyone is invited to join the new ‘Hollywood Mission’