Provided by local volunteers, community groups, and services.
Information on this page is regularly updated.
Tower Hamlets Resources and Activities
Community Cooking Classes
Bags of Taste
Offering residents of Tower Hamlets a free, delivered ingredients bag and course materials. Containing food for seven meals, recipes, and everything needed to participate in a two week course. Sign up for free courses at bagsoftaste.org
Broadband Support
Community Fibre
Offering free and low cost broadband, supporting Tower Hamlets residents to stay connected. Check Community Fibre availability at your address.
Free broadband for eligible residents
DWP has recently partnered with Community Fibre Broadband to offer 12 months of free fibre optic broadband to eligible residents in Tower Hamlets. This scheme began on 16 May 2024. Eligible to anyone who is currently receiving DWP benefits and has been for at least three months. Includes disability benefits, carers allowance, Job Centre benefits, ESA, JSA, Pension Credit, Income Support, Universal Credit. Access this support from Jobcentre Plus in Tower Hamlets, you will receive a letter from Community Fibre, and must ring up Community Fibre within four weeks of the date of the letter to activate this free offer. There is no set up or line rental cost, it’s all completely free. If you have disability that makes it difficult to visit JobCentre Plus, you can contact Community Fibre directly on freephone number 0800 082 0770, explain that you are applying for the DWP scheme and signup over the phone.
Low cost broadband
Residents living in areas of Tower Hamlets covered by Community Fibre network are eligible to get low cost social social broadband with Community Fibre. Do not need to be receiving benefits. No set up costs.
BT
Offering 12 months free broadband, supporting eligible families with children attending schools in Tower Hamlets to stay connected. Includes unlimited data and 700 minutes of free call time.
Must meet ALL of the following criteria to be eligible to apply:
• Families who have children attending a Tower Hamlets school
• Do not currently have a contract with BT or EE
• Receive any of the following benefits: ESA, JSA, Pension Credit, Income Support or Universal Credit.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, please contact your children's school to receive a BT voucher for this scheme. Vouchers must be activated within 90 days of issue.
Idea Stores
Free SIM cards pre-loaded with data for residents struggling to afford mobile connectivity.
Visit your nearest Idea Store or library for details or visit online at www.ideastore.co.uk/our-services/national-databank for information about eligibility and how to apply.
Idea Store locations:
Whitechapel: 321 Whitechapel Road E1 1BU
Bow: 1 Gladstone Place E3 5GT
Chrisp Street: 1 Vesey Path, East India Dock Road E14 6BT
Watney Market: 260 Commercial Road E1 2FB
Camary Wharf: Churchill Place E14 5RB
Library locations:
Bethnal Green: Cambridge Heath Road E2 0HL
Cubitt Town: Strattondale Street E14 3HG