Community Projects

On the Water

Working with East London Canal Access Network we’re opening Poplar’s waterways to women through paddle sports.

We’re helping women build confidence on the water and agency in those who may feel excluded from water sports due to social, cultural, or economic barriers so they can continue their blue journey with self-assurance.

Aberfeldy Health and Wellbeing Centre

Together with Aberfeldy NHS Practice, Poplar HARCA, Tower Hamlets CCG, and Tower Hamlets Council, we launched a new health vision, culminating in the Aberfeldy Health and Wellbeing Centre, where one community lives well.

The Aberfeldy Health and Wellbeing Centres combines a modern GP practice with a welcoming café and wellness space, led by Poplar HARCA and Aberfeldy Practice. The wellness programme offers inspiring activities, gentle interventions, and personalised support to encourage residents to focus on more than medicine to improve their health.

Community Cycles

A cycling library dedicated to making cycling more accessible and enjoyable for everyone in our community, particularly women and families.

Originally based at Chrisp Street, it now operates from the Aberfeldy, Teviot, and Linc centres, offering opportunities for gaining cycling confidence through learn-to-ride sessions, social rides, and bike borrowing.

Carbon Champions

We’re reshaping the conversation around climate change by helping residents reduce their carbon footprint and embrace everyday low waste living and energy efficiency.  Through training and support, we equip passionate green action enthusiasts to lead local discussions to drive positive environmental changes within their community.

Well One

Well One is a lottery-funded health partnership bringing together Poplar HARCA, housing associations, schools, GPs, and community organisations to improve health and wellbeing across Poplar, Bow, and Limehouse.

We’re focused on addressing the social influence on health, such as your living situation, financial status, and access to resources. Our initiatives include health awareness campaigns, promoting healthy lifestyles, and organising health and wellbeing festivals, activities, and events.

Poplar Café Collective

Our cafes for the communities—Bow Brew, Spotlight, and Feldy—offer quality fresh food at fair prices, ensuring good healthy food is readily available to all, particularly to those experiencing cost-of-living concerns.

Each café has its own unique personality, deeply connected to the neighbourhoods it serves. Working alongside local our community centres, these cafés create welcoming spaces where people from diverse backgrounds come together.

Tutoring Young Residents

Working with Tutors United, we’re helping our youngest residents, from low-income backgrounds, succeed as they transition from primary school to secondary school.

Through confidence-boosting attainment-raising tuition we’re making sure they develop strong literacy and numeracy skills, whilst also building a foundation of essential soft skills and ongoing family support to guarantee long-term success and better opportunities for the future.

Community Gardens

Since green spaces are limited in Poplar, we’re making it easier for residents to access green areas by promoting food growing across our 15 community gardens located within our estates.

Each spaces is a great resource for the local community, enabling up to 120 residents to grow their own food while supporting biodiversity through eco-friendly gardening practices.