Oxford House

03/12/2024

Our cafe is open today from 10am - 4pm.

All the best cakes and pastries from served up with the best

And two exhibitions to discover as well.

‘Jummah Aesthetics’- an insight into the clothing Muslim men wear to Friday prayers AND ‘History House’ exploring 140 years of in Bethnal Green and beyond.

03/12/2024

29/11/2024

Early morning in the cafe. Before our lovely customers have stirred from their beds.

Heating is on. We will lovely and toasty wren we open at 10am. Ohh and we will turn the lights up and get some Friday music 🎶 too.

28/11/2024

It’s a braw day in e2. You’ll need that extra layer on, as you walk through Weavers Fields this morning. What greets you are big blue skies, lovely cool air and a soft frost, already disappearing.

And what’s more when you get to the heating is on and it’s nice and toasty inside. So come by for a coffee cake and check out and .rajina exhibition.

Open from 10am. See you soon. 🧡

23/11/2024

A few snaps from around Old Bethnal Green Road.

19/11/2024

We have a great exhibition by and curated by .rajina currently showing in cafe gallery space

It’s the perfect spot to escape a miserable Tuesday…

Pop in, have a hot chocolate and cake (well, why not) and check out a fabulous series of portraits that offer an insightful exploration of the diverse clothing British Muslim men wear to Friday prayers.

18/11/2024

is recruiting an Arts & Heritage Producer to deliver our heritage and cultural programme.

It includes a brand new 2-year project, ‘Made in the East End’. It is a great opportunity to be part of the team that continues our transformation into a dynamic heritage space with amazing community history and creativity at its heart.

We are looking for someone who can build on 7+ years of heritage activity since 2017 where we have completed a major capital refurbishment of our Grade II listed building and developed a reputation for exciting participatory and co-designed projects.

Follow the link to the news section of our website, read the job pack and please apply!

Closing date for applications is this Thursday, 21 November 2024.

Interviews will be held w/c 25 November 2024.

18/11/2024

Everyone’s talking an about it! Closing date this Thursday so please forward. Don’t delay now.

Link on our website www.oxfordhouse.org.uk

Job alert!

Our members Oxford House are looking to recruit an Arts and Heritage Producer.

The role is focused on leading an exciting programme of heritage outreach projects at Oxford House and community settings across Tower Hamlets and includes their recently awarded Heritage Fund project, ‘Made in the East End’.

Find out more about the role and details on how to apply on our website.

http://heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk/jobs/

18/11/2024

Great job. Great place. Great project.

Go to www.oxfordhouse.org.uk and follow link on main page to find Job Pack details.

Closes this Thursday 22 November so get that application in now. Don’t delay y’hear.

14/11/2024

“I tend to wear the thobe to Jummah, but if I am coming from work, I just wear whatever clothes I have on for work.’ Sadiq (2024)

Very pleased to announce our new exhibition, ‘Jummah Aesthetics: British Muslim men and their sartorial choices’ is open.

The exhibition, consisting of 25 images, is an insightful exploration of the diverse clothing British Muslim men wear during Friday prayers, known as Jummah.

Curated by Dr Fatima Rajina, this exhibition features the work of photographer Rehan Jamil, who has captured what Muslim men attending Jummah at Shoreditch Masjid, East London Mosque, Brick Lane Jamme Mosque and Al Huddah Mosque chose to wear to Jummah.

The exhibition showcases a rich array of styles, from traditional garments such as the thobe, funjabi, and shalwar kameez to contemporary attire that reflects the fusion of cultural heritage and city identity. While explicitilty focusing on clothes, the images also pays attention to hairstyles, shoes, trainers and more.

Each photograph is paired with a short narrative that delves into the reasons behind these satorial choices, offering insights into how clothing is a powerful expression of faith, cultural identity and personal style.

The exhibition aims to illluminate the importance of modesty, spirituality and cultural pride that guide these fashion choices while also reflecting the diversity within the British Muslim community.

The project was funded by the British Academy, with support from the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre and Oxford House.

Exhibition is FREE and runs until 31 January 2025 in the Oxford House Cafe Galley.

Open Mon - Fri 10am- 5pm.

Image: /

13/11/2024

The Three Tenors?
Three Amigos?

The lads prefer The Three Musketeers!

The Derbyshire St Pocket Park benefits massively from the help of the Green Team to maintain a wonderful outdoor space for our cafe, occasional events and local residents.

Thanks lads for helping to restock the rain garden and raised planters yesterday. The Pocket Park is now 12 years old and still looking great.

07/11/2024

Have you ever wondered what an eagle (or maybe pigeon?) eyed view of is?

Wait no more. Here we are soaring over Weavers Field.

🦅

06/11/2024

Pop in this morning for the free Social Sketch Appeal Club. Sitting round our big community table this playful weekly portrait session is an opportunity to relax, connect and explore your creativity in a playful way.

Plus. Our cafe is open for the best coffee and cake in Bethnal Green.

02/11/2024

As you may have guessed, we love Bethnal Green.

Part of this deep love is our project Love Bethnal Green where we showcase the many amazing sides of BG and strengthen community bonds.

From a website that lists local businesses and traders, to lobbying key players such as to invest locally to occasional breakfast meet ups, we love Bethnal Green!

Our next Love Bethnal Green networking breakfast is Tuesday, November 5th, from 8:30 am to 10:00 am at the .vam

A fab opportunity to meet and connect with fellow Bethnal Green businesses, organisations, and people over a warm drink.

Register via www.lovebethnalgreen.com

18/10/2024

House is recruiting an Arts & Heritage Producer to deliver our heritage and cultural programme.

It includes a brand new 2-year Heritage Fund project, ‘Made in the East End’. It is a great opportunity to be part of the team that continues our transformation into a dynamic heritage space with amazing community history and creativity at its heart.

We are looking for someone who can build on 7+ years of heritage activity since 2017 where we have completed a major capital refurbishment of our Grade II listed building and developed a reputation for exciting participatory and co-designed projects.

Follow the link to the news section of our website, read the job pack and please apply!

Closing date for applications is 21 November 2024.
Interviews will be held w/c 25 November 2024.

18/10/2024

proudly celebrates with exhibition in our Cafe Gallery featuring work of local artist Nora Nonah.

Norah’s work is deeply influenced by Black music culture, with many pieces paying homage to renowned and unsung musicians.

The exhibition runs between 14.20.24 - 9.11.24.

16/10/2024

As part of our ‘Through the Lens’ project, Oxford House has a new fully-catalogued digital archive accessible to the public.

How to create a community centre? Just add the community!

In 1944, John Ilsley wrote, ‘My own feeling is that Oxford House has always been a community centre, but that we are now becoming more widely recognised as such by the neighbourhood which we serve.’

Oxford House had changed a lot during WWII, where under the leadership of Molly and Guy Clutton-Brock. Clubs for women and girls had been created, while the wider community came together to dance on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and shelter from the 80 tons of bombs being dropped above. Oxford House never looked back from that experience and flourished after a brutal six years of war.

Another burst of energy and enthusiasm for community development took place in the 1970s; Oxford House truly began to flourish as a community centre – however it was not as simple as it transforming into one immediately following the war. The Blitz had left East London devastated, and it had left Oxford House in debt.

New leadership set about reviving the House and creating new committees and schemes to respond to local needs and desires. Some of the most successful included the Oxford House Social Club, the Summer Playscheme and E2 Festival, and the Oxford House Youth Club.

The Oxford House Youth Club was very popular. Art workshops, a youth club with pool tables, and a safe space for young people.

‘Oxfords’ as it was known. Philip Cunningham, a photographer and youth worker at the time, noted that many young people who attended Oxfords had been banned from other youth clubs in the area – but found home at Oxford House.

[email protected]

11/10/2024

presents the 16th annual Somali Week Festival: Creative Worlds & Environment!

Get ready for a vibrant celebration of Somali culture, heritage, and community. From traditional dances and music to engaging talks and workshops, there’s something for everyone.

🗓️ Running from Friday, 18th October to Sunday, 27th October 2024, at Oxford House and other London venues.

SWF is back as an essential part of the UK’s Black History Month.

🎉 The biggest Somali festival outside the Horn of Africa, SWF brings together artists, academics, and influencers to explore the intersection of creativity and the environment.

From captivating poetry by Yasmin Mohamed Kaahin to insightful presentations on climate change by Dr. Sada Mire, join at for a series of powerful literary, musical, and theatrical performances.

Don’t miss discussions on sustainable technologies and wellbeing!