Help Coffee Run Hackney Build a Healthier, Connected Community!

The Mission

We are raising funds to launch a series of 6-week Beginners 0-5k Programmes in the Well St Common area of Hackney (E9).

Our goal is simple: to use movement as a bridge to connection. We want to get more local people moving, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and strengthen the ties that make our neighbourhood feel like home.

About Coffee Run Hackney

Founded by Carole O’Leary, Coffee Run isn’t just a running group; it’s a community catalyst. Carole spent her career as a youth worker and NHS commissioning manager, specializing in behavioral change and building healthy habits. In 2012, she combined her professional background with her passion for running to create a space for people who might feel isolated during the day, home workers, parents, retired and those looking for a social way to get active.

The "Coffee Run" Formula:

Move: A structured 6-week beginner course.

Connect: Post-run coffee at local shops to explore our neighbourhood and build friendships.

Grow: Participants go from their first steps to completing a 5k at Parkrun or the Hackney Moves Community 5k.

Sustain: Participants continue their running journey in the wider mixed ability Coffee Run group. Many of those that completed the %k Hackney Moves Community 5k have gone on in later years to run the Hackney Half.

Why We Need Your Help

In the past, we have successfully run these beginner courses through local community grants. These sessions were offered for free, allowing people from all walks of life to join.

The Challenge: Local authority funding is becoming harder to access. To keep the net wide and ensure that financial barriers don't stop someone from starting their running journey, we are turning to our community.

Where the Money Goes:

Beginner Courses: Offering free 6 week courses to develop healthy routines and habits.

Expert Coaching: Professional guidance to help beginners build confidence safely.

Community Events: Organizing group graduation runs and local meetups to keep the motivation and connection alive.

Sustainability Training up Run Leaders from within the community to support the growing community.

More Than Just Miles

Coffee Run has proven that when people start running together, amazing things happen:

Safety & Security: neighbours get to know each other. Members are now known by local café owners and neighbours, creating a "village" feel in the city.

Mental Wellbeing: Stepping into nature on Well St Common, whatever the weather, provides a vital mental reset.

New Horizons: Our members have gone from 0k to 5k, and some have even gone on to paddleboard, camping, hike, and run ultras across Slovenia!

Support Networks: From sharing recommendations for kids' clubs to bringing soup to a member’s doorstep when they are ill, the Coffee part of the run is where the real magic happens.

How You Can Support Us

Donate: Every pound goes directly toward getting another neighbour off the sofa and into the community.

Share: Spread the word to your Hackney neighbours, local businesses, and friends.

Join Us: If you see us on Well St Common, come say hi! We are the ones in bright Orange.

Help us connect more people in Hackney E9. Thank you for your support!