The Canvas:
Humans are amazing, we just need space to be so.
2026: The Canvas of Cafes
Ten years after opening a much-loved East London community café and three years after losing the space overnight when the landlord padlocked it shut, founder Ruth Rogers is launching a bold new national project: The Canvas of Cafes Network, a movement to unlock the potential of existing independent cafés into places of connection, care and community action.
The pilot, running until spring, aims to be the springboard for a people-powered movement, transforming café spaces into community centres for the 21st century.
“Humans are amazing, we just need space to be so. I saw every day with my own that cafés can be that space – and the great news is there are cafes already in every neighbourhood!”
This pilot is proudly supported by Hoshizaki, global supplier of fridges and freezers for cafes and restaurants around the world, and operationally delivered by the national charity Community Organisers
Want to learn more? Email ruth@thecanvascafe.org
2024: The Canvas for Change podcast
The Canvas for Change podcast celebrates the people and projects that developed and grew in one cafe with a huge heart.
April 2024: Reimagining the role of a cafe
by Founder of The Canvas, Ruth Rogers
The Canvas spaces were powerful and positive, both in Shoreditch (2014-2022) and Sydenham (March-Sept '22).
2 years ago, we had to close our spaces. We needed to regroup to work out how best to support more communities in the future.
We're now working on how The Canvas can be rebuilt, bigger and better; to help more people, connect more communities, and provide more space for humans to be amazing. That plan is called The Canvas of Cafes.
Do you want to join us?
Sign up to our newsletter to hear how you can join us.
Why did we close?
Read the full story and answers to FAQs regarding the closure of The Canvas Shoreditch and Sydenham.
For any other enquiries, email our Founder, Ruth Rogers: ruth@thecanvascafe.org
Our Impact
We believe that humans are amazing, they just need the space to be so.
Here’s what humans have achieved in our spaces since The Canvas launched in 2014.
Hosted on average 60 events every month, 2/3 of them free of charge in our Community Hub
Collected £30k of paid-forward meals to our local homeless community via our Pay-it-Forward board. That's 250 hot meals, 500 coffees and 825 homemade cakes and snacks per year we've been open.
+6000 free home cooked meals to vulnerable Tower Hamlets residents throughout the pandemic
Provided +8000 free hot home cooked meals for homeless men and women at the Crisis Skylight Centre
700 free meals for children at risk of holiday hunger in Tower Hamlets
“Supporting numerous community and grassroots initiatives, currently providing hundreds of free meals a week”
— Mary Portas' #AdoptAShop campaign
“The Canvas is a hub of happiness and an inspiring example of how a community venue can boost local wellbeing, enhance social cohesion, encourage kindness and transform people's lives.”
— Mark Williamson, Director of Action for Happiness