IM Community Sanctuary.

Space for Wellness.

IM Community Sanctuary C.I.C. is an asset-locked, non-profit community interest company dedicated to democratising holistic care, somatic movement, and health education in Hackney, East London. Hosted within our plant-filled flagship venue on Mare Street—just minutes from London Fields—we bridge the gap between high-end commercial wellness and accessible community healthcare.

High-end alternative healthcare, nervous system regulation, and preventative health education are traditionally reserved for those with significant financial privilege. We break down those socioeconomic barriers by transforming an established, restorative venue into a non-profit community asset.

Our Public Health Framework

Our programming strictly complements traditional healthcare frameworks, focusing on evidence-based lifestyle medicine, early non-clinical intervention, and nervous system regulation. Designed to support isolated mothers, single parents facing urban time-poverty, low-income families, and residents navigating burnout, anxiety, or chronic stress, our sanctuary delivers care grounded in two core public health pillars:

NHS Five Ways to Wellbeing: Every session and workshop is structured directly around Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give.
NICE Guidelines: Aligned with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommendations, using structured somatic movement, mindfulness, and group connection as effective non-clinical early interventions for anxiety, depression, and stress regulation.

The Low-Cost Community Clinic

At the heart of our sanctuary is a dedicated private therapy room providing accessible, 1-to-1 care. Operating on a sliding scale, our Low-Cost Community Clinic offers somatic regulation, bodywork, acupuncture, kinesiology, and trauma-informed coaching. This initiative provides an essential bridge for local residents who cannot afford standard private therapy fees or face long waitlists for NHS primary care support.

Sustainable Circular Business Model

A major challenge for non-profit organisations is surviving without continuous grant dependence. IM Community Sanctuary solves this through a unique circular economy and cross-subsidisation model with Glasshouse Salon.

Our Community & Local Practitioner Ecosystem

Beyond our guest offerings, IM Community Sanctuary acts as an incubator for East London-based health workers, somatic coaches, movement instructors, and complementary therapists. Reinvesting operational revenue into fair-wage practitioner fees creates a sustainable, resilient local health economy in E8.

Governance & Asset Lock

IM Community Sanctuary C.I.C. is registered in England and Wales as a non-profit Company Limited by Guarantee (Company No: 17343952). In accordance with Community Interest Company regulations, our organisation is bound by a strict Form CIC36 Asset Lock. This legally guarantees that all physical assets, space, and generated surpluses are permanently locked for the social benefit of the local Hackney community.

Our strategic direction and financial compliance are overseen by an independent Board of Directors bringing together lived experience, clinical expertise, and corporate strategy.

Rooted in Hackney. Sustained by Community. Restoring Wellbeing.

Frequently asked questions

We are located at 139 Mare Street, London, E8 3RH, hosted within the Glasshouse space. We are a short walk from both Hackney Central and London Fields Overground stations.

We operate exclusively during scheduled workshop hours and booked 1-to-1 appointments. To protect the privacy and calm environment of our sessions, we are unable to accommodate drop-in visitors. Please book online or email us at info@imcommunitysanctuary.co.uk with any questions.

Our community C.I.C. programming runs on Sundays through Tuesdays, along with select weekday evenings.

Our workshops are open to everyone in our community. They are particularly designed for isolated mothers, single parents facing urban time-poverty, low-income families, and residents experiencing burnout, anxiety, or stress-induced health challenges.

Our workshops offer accessible lifestyle health education, creative crafting, and somatic movement designed to support stress recovery, nervous system regulation, and mental wellbeing. Guided by local health practitioners and instructors, our sessions combine evidence-based practices—such as mindfulness, movement, herbal wellness, and gut health awareness—with welcoming peer support groups where local residents can connect and unwind.

Our group workshops are offered either fully funded, donation-based, or priced with a few optional low-cost concessionary tickets to minimise barriers to accessing care and keep a sustainable model for practioners and facilitators.

Our clinic provides accessible, 1-to-1 complementary health therapies in a private treatment room on certains days of the week. Sessions are offered on a sliding scale or complimentary room hire for pracitioners in order for them to better support residents who cannot afford standard private therapy costs or face long waitlists for NHS care.

We plan to offer somatic regulation, bodywork, kinesiology, acupuncture, and trauma-informed coaching.

Clinic appointments must be booked in advance through our online system. Please visit our Community Clinic page for current availability.

A C.I.C. is a special type of non-profit enterprise designed to use its assets and profits for public benefit rather than private gain. IM Community Sanctuary C.I.C. is bound by a strict Form CIC36 Asset Lock, legally ensuring all revenues and assets permanently benefit the local Hackney community.

We operate a circular cross-subsidisation model in partnership with Glasshouse Salon. By sharing core building costs across commercial and social uses, our non-profit maximises space efficiency, allowing incoming grant funding and community contributions to go directly into funding frontline services and paying local practitioners.

While we are an independent C.I.C., our programs strictly complement traditional primary healthcare. Our framework is directly structured around the NHS Five Ways to Wellbeing and NICE guidelines for early non-clinical mental health interventions.

We act as an incubator for local East London bodyworkers, somatic coaches, and movement teachers, providing fair-wage opportunities to run community sessions. Please get in touch with us via our Contact Page or email info@imcommunitysanctuary.co.uk to discuss collaboration opportunities.