Community, Culture and Collaboration
Over the past three years, The LightHouse and Gardens, Hadley’s meanwhile-use project at IQL North on the edge of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has grown into a vibrant hub for community, creativity and connection. Our operators continue to expand their work, deepening their impact across East London and beyond.
At The LightHouse, a regular programme of activities continues to serve residents across the local community. These include Baby Ballet, Singing for Breathing, drumming classes, Chess Club, and retreats for over-60s. Over the summer, the Walkie Talkie series, run with Sapphire Arts & Crafts, brought older residents together for gentle exercise, conversation, and connection.
Sista Routes Travel has also added to the mix with yoga, meditation, and wellbeing sessions. A recent highlight was “Sista, What’s Your Story?” – a hands-on writer’s workshop and advice day with an award-winning publisher, the founder of the UK Black Book Fair, and a panel of authors who spoke honestly about overcoming challenges and finding their voices.
In the Community Gardens, the youngest members of the community are getting stuck in. A local childminder now brings children aged 2–4 four times a week, where they dig, water, and watch their own vegetables grow in a shared planter. What starts as play has become a chance to see how food is grown, care for it, and enjoy the reward of picking it. The garden and play area give the children space to explore and connect with nature in their own way.
El Cafecito Social continues to evolve and bring new offerings to locals and those passing through the area. Opened by owner Chris, the independent café has now teamed up with local resident Gloria Wang, founder of Bite of Xian. Gloria brings the flavours of northwest China, mixed with Latin American street food influences, into the heart of Stratford.
El Cafecito still serves its well-loved Colombian coffee, and the menu now includes dishes like oil-splashed noodles, chimichurri steak sandwiches, and other plates that reflect both traditions. They’ve also added tea cocktails made with Chinese teas, fresh fruit, and spirits.
Coming soon, El Cafecito will host food-focused cultural exchange events – a chance to celebrate Stratford’s diversity and bring people together through food, stories, and conversation.
A short walk through the Gardens brings you to Community Sauna CIC, a not-for-profit offering sauna and cold-water therapy at The LightHouse since December 2024. In a short time, it has become a key part of local wellbeing.
Alongside hot-cold rituals, the team runs women-only evenings, sound baths, and works with over 15 charities, including Care4Calais. By covering costs like transport, swimwear, and training, they remove barriers so more people can take part.
Community Sauna CIC has also expanded to Hackney, Bermondsey, Peckham, and Camberwell, with a new site on the way in Walthamstow. They were recently recognised with the Sauna Summit Award for Best Rituals Programme.
The team is now fundraising to grow their social prescribing programmes, improve facilities, and make wellness open to all. Supporters can help through raffles, discounted sessions, or donations. Find out more here.
At the other end of the site, Elite Project Services, which runs Stratford Gateway training facility from the site, continues to make a difference through Accredited PTS (Personal Track Safety) training courses, run in partnership with Shaw Trust, a UK charity and social enterprise that helps people overcome barriers to work, education, and training.
After the success of their first PTS course earlier this year, Elite is now working with HMP Hollesley Bay. In September, six new learners will start out on their journey into the rail industry, gaining practical skills, nationally recognised qualifications, and the confidence to take their next step.
New courses are also launching at HMP Ford and returning to Stratford Gateway, with six learners at each site. These programmes do more than provide training – they open real routes into work for people rebuilding their lives.
This work reflects the wider purpose of The LightHouse and Gardens, which has sought from the beginning to create opportunities, support futures, and bring the community together.
We’re proud of what these partners are achieving. If you’re nearby, drop in and see what a meanwhile space can grow into when it’s shaped by the people who use it.
