Our Mission,
Our Values

At The Hornbeam, we see first hand that Global is Local - Everything, Everywhere, Interconnected.

We recognise that global issues such as the climate and ecological emergency, and the exploitation and inequity embedded within our current system are having immediate local impacts.

We believe our power is in community

Our goal is an active, engaged, inclusive and environmentally sustainable Waltham Forest where people are empowered and supported to uplift each other through creative and collaborative community action.

Our mission is to;

  • Enable healthy, thriving, resilient and sustainable communities across Waltham Forest

  • Facilitate and support community led activism and the development of networked initiatives that lead to positive environmental and social change.

We work towards these goals with three tools;

Food has always been an integral part of The Hornbeam. The cafe space has hosted many iterations of veggie and vegan cafes, bistro’s and pop-ups in its 30+ year history. When the pandemic struck, The Hornbeam was transformed at speed into bustling emergency food hub with dozens of volunteers, distributing food parcels and meals (over 40,000) to our community.

Post pandemic, community need remains high and we continue to redistribute 50 tonnes of surplus food per year to smaller, hyper-local free food stalls, co-ops, and VCS groups. Some of this surplus food is cooked here into free, healthy vegan community meals served in our cafe or sent out by bike to local households in need, though our ‘Good Deeds on Bikes’ volunteer network.

Additionally, through our work as co-coordinators of the Waltham Forest Food Partnership, we are proud to support and help cultivate a flourishing local community of food producers, growers, distributors and consumers, with the goal of working towards collective food sovereignty; thereby nurturing connectivity, greater sustainability and accessibility for all.

We recognise the crucial importance of third spaces for community connection and belonging. Inclusive, welcoming spaces where people can spend time, together, without spending money are rare and valuable. The Hornbeam is proud to be able to offer to the community low-cost (and often free) space to meet, create, learn, share, organise, work, cook and celebrate, both here at The Hornbeam in E17, and up in Chingford at The Learning Lodge in Pimp Hall Reserve.

The Hornbeam’s cafe space is accessible and seats 20 comfortably, upstairs we have a meeting room (seats up to 7 or 8 at a squeeze), a community kitchen and a hot desk.

Up at The Learning Lodge, there is a main space that can hold 30-50 people, and very affordable work/desk space with wifi, tea and coffee.

Interested? Check our Venue Hire Page for further details and booking.

The Hornbeam is a hub; of knowledge, experience and support. Many successful organisations have taken their first steps within these walls. Organiclea, The HEET Project, Community Apothecary, Spice Box, Joy Riders, The Gleaners, Time To Grow, Transition Walthamstow and Stories & Supper, have all been nurtured here in different ways. Idea development, fundraising support, access to networks, space for experimental pop-ups, supper clubs, meetings and project piloting are some of the ways that we assist the germination of community enhancing ideas into reality.

Do you have a big idea that connects, inspires and uplifts? Fill in our Expression of Interest form to get started.

A long-time principle guiding our work is ‘Skills & Knowledge for low-cost, low-impact living’. All of the projects that happen here are threaded through with the understanding and respect of planetary boundaries, while also recognising the needs of our community. We believe wholeheartedly that a society can and must be uplifted through action on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

The Hornbeam is proud to be able to host and share the wisdom, imagination, creativity and care that abounds in the network of our organisation, our partners and community. Thousands of classes, meetings, workshops and events have been held in our spaces, sharing knowledge and skills through creation, care and vision. We hope to be able to run thousands more for years to come.

Our Commitments

  • We are inclusive and people-focused: we believe people of all backgrounds and abilities have a role in achieving a just future for all of us and our environment, and we engage with the concerns and passions of individuals and community groups.

  • We are creative and collaborative: we believe that innovation will help us to achieve the change we want to see, and that by working alongside partners and local community groups we will make that change lasting.

  • We are committed to the careful use of both human and environmental resources

  • We are committed to being transparent in our governance and in how we communicate with partners and supporters

  • We are committed to remaining relevant to our community and conscious of the priorities of the people we work with