Sorry…

Two of our dryers are currently out of action, engineers have been called but aren’t able to fix them until next week. In the meantime please bear with us – service washes will take a little longer than usual and if you’re doing your own washing and drying please allow a little extra time.

We do know how frustrating this is and we appreciate your patience and understanding.

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Our Community – All Equal

The Boundary Community Launderette is proud to be at the heart of a vibrant community, one that we were set up to work with and for as a not-for-profit enterprise. There have been many changes in our neighbourhood but we have remained true to our commitment to equal opportunities. Today it is worth remembering:

We are here for everyone in our community, regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion.

Under no circumstances will we tolerate any behaviour that belittles or demeans anyone – please respect your fellow launderette users, our staff and our neighbours. Thank you.

© Shepard Fairey ‘Defend Equality – Love Unites’

It’s Nearly Easter…

Please don’t forget that we’ll be closed from 7pm on Thursday 24th March (last wash 6.15pm) until 8am on Tuesday 29th March for the Easter holidays. Make sure you’ve got your washing done as well as buying your Easter eggs!

Staff Vacancy…

A Bit of News…

A couple of things we thought you’d like to know about, plans for a community event and a mention in the national press!

There’s a great community event being planned called the Boundary Estate Fun Palace, which is part of the national Fun Palaces weekend in October. It’s resident-run with the support of St. Hilda’s East Community Centre, and there will be a whole host of free arts, science and sports events in some of the estate courtyards and in St. Hilda’s East too. The type and range of events is being decided by residents and look amazing – they’re looking for ideas and people to help make the Fun Palace. Check out their website.

We had a lovely little mention in the Guardian today, if you missed it take a look here

One of our directors, Philip Green, left this comment on the article’s online feed. It’s a good reminder of what the launderette is and that it’s been part of estate life for almost 24 years:

Good that the Boundary Community Launderette got a mention. I was one of the people who helped get it started in 1989 and opened in 1992, still living on the Boundary Estate and one of two original voluntary directors who oversee the business and the 5 staff. We’ve won two community awards, charge lower prices than most launderettes whilst paying the staff the London living wage, we have an equalities policy and are one of the longest surviving community enterprises in the country. Launderettes really are a neglected and under-appreciated centre of communities for many inner city areas. We cover our day-to-day running and maintenance costs but any new machinery has to be purchased with fundraising – not easy nowadays. Nine of our machines are now 24 years old and need to be replaced but that will cost around £35,000, a huge ask. It’s no surprise that launderettes like ours – old-fashioned honest-to-goodness community centred – are dying out. Not only are planning laws against us but the costs are prohibitive. If we had to think of profits it would be virtually impossible to do what we do. None of the directors have ever received payment or benefit for what we do, we do it because of our connection to and love of where we live. The Boundary Estate was the first planned council estate in the UK, for years it was neglected and unloved by most other than the people who lived here and a few architecture enthusiasts. Today it’s at the centre of trendy Shoreditch with ex-council properties selling for up to £750,000 whilst many of the council tenants are on minimum wage and in receipt of benefit – it’s worth remembering that Tower Hamlets and Hackney are two of the poorest boroughs in the country, and the ward we’re in one of the poorest in Europe.