At the periphery of a 1960s council estate in East London, mere moments from Stratford station and beneath the looming presence of a concrete high-rise, a former train carriage has found new life as a café.
The Dialogue Express Café, located on the Carpenter’s Estate in Newham, is staffed entirely by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
These staff members are undergoing training through a local social enterprise known as Dialogue Hub, which aims to enhance opportunities and visibility for the deaf community.
Hakan Elbir, the founder of Dialogue Hub, shared with BBC London, “We provide training for them and encourage London residents to reach out and communicate with them in their language.” The language he refers to is British Sign Language (BSL).
When patrons approach the counter to place their orders, they can follow a video displayed on a screen, which demonstrates how to use BSL for ordering—an action they then imitate.
Trainee barista Karissa expressed that this initiative helps individuals like her feel more connected rather than isolated.
She remarked, “This opportunity is incredibly exciting for me because it bridges the gap between deaf individuals and the wider community.”
Her fellow trainee, Victor, concurred, stating, “This means a great deal to me… it represents more than just employment.”
The café is part of Newham Council’s initiative termed “inclusive regeneration,” which involves local residents in the extensive redevelopment of the Carpenter’s Estate.
The ambitious £1.4 billion plan aims to construct over 2,300 homes, with half of them designated as affordable social rent properties.
However, the Carpenter’s Estate has seen numerous regeneration proposals since 2003. Residents began relocating in 2004, but construction has yet to commence, and fewer than half of the current residences are occupied.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz of Newham reaffirmed the council’s dedication to the latest plan, stating that abandoning the regeneration of the Carpenter’s Estate “would undermine my duty to provide homes.”
She highlighted that a ballot in 2021 showed that 73% of residents were in favor of the regeneration masterplan.
Speaking to BBC London, Ms. Fiaz explained, “We’re implementing this in phases… and we are confident that throughout each stage of executing the outlined masterplan, we will manage to create homes that are within reach for people.”
Next month, renovations are set to commence on one of the estate’s tower blocks.
The entirety of the regeneration effort is projected to span 14 years.
Local resident Eileen Barnard, who has resided on the estate for 28 years, stated, “Currently, there is minimal activity. We have several small projects underway, but what we really want is redevelopment.”
Eileen’s friend, Tahira Ahmad, visited the Dialogue Express café and expressed optimism that local residents will indeed witness the completion of the new housing.
She remarked, “We truly value this initiative because it is fostering unity within the community.”
The Dialogue Express Café welcomes everyone.
The council hopes it will serve as a community hub while the long-awaited construction is finally initiated.
