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Impactsos CIC · Tower Hamlets & Hackney

Spaces to gather. Skills to grow. Communities to thrive.

We help local community groups bring residents together and develop practical ways to sustain the good they do.

Our story

Where the idea came from

I started Impactsos CIC because I was frustrated that small community groups find it hard to make an income and sustain themselves.

There are so many caring, talented people in our society who want to do good and help others, but cannot afford the time unpaid. I wanted to find a way to help them earn a little so they can keep making an impact.

— Craig Smith, founder

Our spaces

Our spaces, now and next

Community sessions already run at The Old Workshop, and we run weekly business sessions at The Feldy. Arrangements for Butley Court are still being confirmed.

Free venue hire for community groups

Groups can use the space without venue-hire fees to run free or paid sessions, subject to agreed booking arrangements and availability. Groups may still have their own materials or activity costs.

What's on

What's on at The Old Workshop

Current weekly and monthly sessions. All times are UK times. The Old Workshop, Sceptre Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 0HB (opens Google Maps)↗

Every week

Monday

  • 12pm–3pm

    Nurture Academy

    Home education support, learning activities and community for families.

Tuesday

  • 2pm–5pm

    Well Being Space

    Connect, chat and support wellbeing.

  • 6pm–8pm

    Radojunkie

Wednesday

  • 8am–9am

    John's PT

    Group fitness for health, strength and wellbeing.

  • 11am–1pm

    Mums & Babies Coffee

    A friendly coffee morning to meet and connect.

Thursday

  • 4pm–6pm

    STEAM Academy

    Coding and technology for young people.

  • 7:30pm–9pm

    Recovery from Addiction

    Conversation and support on the recovery journey.

Friday

  • 10am–2pm

    Furniture Restoration

    Creative workshops turning unwanted materials into useful products.

  • 4pm–6pm

    Tutors United

    Activities and support for local young people.

Every month

  • First Friday of each month · 7pm–9pm

    Impact Soul Poetry Night

    Poetry, spoken word and creative expression.

  • Second Saturday of each month · 6pm–9pm

    BlessBless Connect Relation-Chat

    Community conversations about relationships, games, live performances, worship, drama, mental health talks and networking. Food available.

  • Fourth Saturday of each month · 2pm–10pm

    Health Garden Clinic & Spa Night

    Health, wellbeing and relaxation activities.

Please contact us to check availability, booking requirements and any session costs before attending.

Email craig@impactsos.com

Also on Wednesdays — at The Feldy

Every Wednesday, 10:30–11:30am — Impactsos CIC runs free business sessions at The Feldy, 18 Aberfeldy Square, London E14 0XA. Our eight-week programme covers testing ideas and demand, pricing, finding customers, marketing and social impact. Email us to check the current intake.

Use a space

Forms and next steps

These are Clarion's generic blank forms and the starting point for enquiries about The Old Workshop or Butley Court. Sending them is not approval or a guaranteed booking — any venue-specific or updated requirements will be confirmed during review.

Clarion Pre-Hirer Agreement v2.0

Pre-Hirer Agreement (Word, 282 KB)

Download

Clarion Hirer Safety Information v1.0

Hirer Safety Information (Word, 289 KB)

Download

Original blank documents supplied by Clarion in the email "Hire process for The Old Workshop", 14 May 2026.

  1. 1

    Complete the Pre-Hirer Agreement

    Download it and fill in your organisation and contact details, the activity, attendee age range, frequency and dates. Read the safety measures it lists, then sign and date it.

  2. 2

    Read the Hirer Safety Information

    Read the sheet, then confirm in your email that you have read it.

  3. 3

    Email your documents

    Send the completed agreement and supporting documents to craig@impactsos.com. Please include your group name, chosen venue and the days and times you'd like.

  4. 4

    We review and confirm

    We review your enquiry and coordinate any further requirements and the hire agreement with Clarion. Please don't start using the space until arrangements and any required hire agreement are confirmed.

Supporting documents checklist

  • Public liability insurance certificate
  • Employer liability insurance, where appropriate
  • Safeguarding policy, for regulated activity

Can't print, sign and scan?

As the form explains, type your name in the signature box and add this to your email: "Please accept this email as written signature of the document attached".

The button opens an email draft to craig@impactsos.com with prompts to fill in. It does not attach your documents automatically — please attach your completed forms yourself before sending. We don't collect or store forms on this website.

Email your forms

Butley Court · Planned · details being confirmed

What would you like to do at Butley Court?

Whether you're a resident with an idea, an informal group of neighbours or an established community project, we'd love to hear what you might run. This is an early expression of interest — no booking paperwork needed yet.

It does not reserve a space. We'll get in touch to discuss options and confirm any requirements, including Clarion's forms if your proposal goes ahead.

This opens your email app with your enquiry filled in. Review and send it there. Nothing is submitted or stored on this website.Your email will go to craig@impactsos.com.

Please don't include medical or other sensitive personal information.

What we do

Making, learning, keeping going

01

Make together

Keyrings, embroidery kits, mosaics, fridge magnets and other group-led products.

02

Learn practical business skills

Test ideas, understand customers, cost and price products, and market and sell them.

03

Build lasting community activity

Free space and ways to earn income that help groups keep going.

Product suitability and relevant safety requirements will be considered before anything is sold. We run free weekly business sessions at The Feldy — every Wednesday 10:30–11:30am — covering testing ideas and demand, pricing, finding customers, marketing and social impact, through an eight-week programme. Email us to check the current intake.

Today

14

groups supported today

Plan

30

groups — our next-year ambition

Plan

12

making sessions — planned over a year

  1. 1Listen and plan
  2. 2Make and test
  3. 3Share and sell
  4. 4Learn and improve

Our community

Groups we work with

  • E14 Honey
  • Radojunkie
  • Threadheads
  • Nurture Academy
  • Hackney Herbal
  • Hackney Mosaic
  • Hackney Playbus

In focus · Threadheads

Stephanie started Threadheads during COVID to help people feel less isolated. Residents stitch together without pressure to talk.

We suggested stitching kits and helped introduce them to a couple of stores.

Our account of working with Threadheads.

Conversations under way

  • A local resident interested in writing children's books.
  • A community knitting group of grandmothers interested in selling their work.

Details kept private to protect identities.

Why we exist

“There are so many caring, talented people who want to help others, but cannot afford to give all their time unpaid. We started Impactsos CIC to help small groups develop ways to earn a little, sustain their activities and keep making an impact.”

— Craig Smith, founder

How we support sustainability

We draw on experience of opening a community shop in Boxpark, which gave us hands-on knowledge of product development, pricing and wholesale distribution. Impact Cards came out of that experience, but is separate from the CIC.

We're exploring transparent revenue-sharing arrangements for groups' own products, agreed with each group before any sales. Retailer interest will be tested, and paid business sessions for organisations may be developed.

Get involved

Pull up a chair

Local groups, residents with ideas, volunteers and potential supporters are all welcome. Each button opens an email to craig@impactsos.com. Bookings and session dates will be confirmed by email.

Bring your group

Ask about using The Old Workshop or Butley Court.

Email about a spaceSee the forms and next stepsShare an idea for Butley Court

Join the programme

Residents and groups with an idea to make, learn or sell.

Email to join

Support us

Volunteers, retailers and supporters who'd like to help.

Email to support