Teviot Community Kitchen & Cafe

Aim: Help us raise £50k to refurbish the kitchen in the Teviot Centre & create a thriving cafe, jobs and a welcoming community hub.

Help us raise £50k to refurbish the kitchen in the Teviot Centre and be part of creating a thriving community cafe in East London. It’s not just about providing nutritious, affordable food and drink, but also a welcoming space for connection, learning and support.

THE STORY OF TEVIOT

The Teviot Estate has a rich history and vibrant community. Up to the 19th century the area had a rural feel and was prized for its fertile land, the market gardens providing fruit and vegetables to the city of London. 

Over years of redevelopment, the estate has been cut off by the A13, canal and DLR line, leaving residents feeling like they live ‘on an island’ despite Canary Wharf only being 5 minutes away. The social fabric of the estate began to decline with unemployment, poverty and isolation increasing in the area. 

Through listening to key community leaders we have heard the urgent need for a local cafe to be central to creating a hub for the community again. There is nothing similar for local residents to access within 1 mile and this provision can’t wait for the regeneration project which could take 10+ years to complete.

THE VISION & IMPACT OF TEVIOT CAFE

The Teviot Community Cafe will not only offer delicious, nutritious and seasonal food and drink at affordable prices, but also provide lasting social value and change. We believe food has the power to bring people together as well as bring change to entire communities experiencing food insecurity, social isolation, unemployment and poor mental and physical health.

We will -

• Partner with the local food co-op supplying 100% organic produce straight from local farms, to increase sustainability and ensure everyone has access to tasty and nourishing food. 
• Provide a welcoming space where people from diverse backgrounds can come and receive support as well as access to free WiFi.
• Invest in local people by offering training and employment opportunities in hospitality, running classes that teach basic cooking skills to increase their independence and hosting community meals to facilitate connection and relationships.

This project is not just a physical asset, but the ultimate goal of these improvements is to cultivate improved community health & wellbeing. 

WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAYS...

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We invite you to be part of this transformative project! Your contribution will serve the residents of the community, adding long-term value by providing a space and assets which will be managed by local people. This will bring people together, increasing ownership and cohesion as well as adding value to the Teviot estate in East London. 

Together, we can create a thriving community cafe and social hub that really makes a difference.

HOW WE WILL SPEND THE MONEY WE RAISE

Reaching our target would enable us to refurbish the kitchen in the Teviot Community Centre, launch a community cafe and create a welcoming social hub that leads to training programs and increased wellbeing. 

• £20k Carry out complete refurbishment of the kitchen to make it fit for purpose at a commercial standard (includes plumbing, electrics, walls, floors and units).

• £8k Replace old and broken equipment with high-quality, new appliances to ensure the kitchen can serve its full potential (includes an oven, dishwasher and fridge).

• £12k Purchase of functional, durable furniture to create a space that is comfortable and inviting and serves the needs of local people that the community is proud of. 

• £7k Design & fit-out of the serving counter area and coffee station providing a new feel for the space, representative of the community identity of growth. 

• £3k Training program for new staff and volunteers in barista & kitchen skills and excellent hospitality to increase employability and further their development. 

These contributions will enable us to launch the cafe, but we will continue to look for innovative social impact projects to help even more people in the community.

WHO WE ARE

We are Place Guild Network, a social enterprise, based in Tower Hamlets, East London. We are on a mission to see positive social transformation in deprived areas through the activation of community spaces. We take a creative, community-led and collaborative approach, working in partnership with local people, charities and businesses that are already doing great stuff. We are committed to fostering strong, resilient communities. We love good food and believe that hospitality has the ability to bring people together as they eat, share and dream!

Join us in making a difference on the Teviot Estate in Tower Hamlets!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 1st September 2025 at 4:07pm