Our Charity:Mission

Poplar Union is the trading name of LARG the charity, which stands for Lincoln Area Regeneration Group.

Established nearly 25 years ago by residents of the Bow area in Tower Hamlets, LARG remains a grassroots organisation dedicated to improving the cultural, social, and environmental wellbeing of local communities. From the beginning, our mission has been to support residents by creating opportunities that empower them and foster a strong, cohesive community.

In 2017, we took on the management of Poplar Union, an arts and community centre nestled between Bartlett Park and the Limehouse Cut. Our vision for Poplar Union is to make arts, creativity, and community activities accessible to everyone in the area. We focus on initiatives that positively impact health and wellbeing, particularly by helping people build meaningful social connections.

Today, LARG continues to operate as a community-led organisation, staying true to its roots of being “for local people, by local people.” From the artists we collaborate with to the partners we work alongside, everything we do reflects the needs and values of our community. Our Board and staff are made up of individuals who live and work in Tower Hamlets, ensuring we have a deep understanding of the challenges our neighbours face and the opportunities we can create together.

Here’s what we set out to do.

  • Empower local communities by making arts and creativity accessible to everyone.
  • Promote health and wellbeing through engaging, impactful activities
  • Foster skill-building and connections using arts as a bridge to new opportunities
  • Collaborate with partners to enrich our communities’ access to creativity and wellbeing initiatives
  • Support emerging artists and organisations as they grow and thrive.

Find out more about LARG here.

Trustee

  • David Black: Chair
  • Helal Ahmed: Treasurer
  • Brian Searle: member
  • Safia Jama: member
  • Cheryl Ndione: member
  • Thomas Viegas
  • Mohamed Alom
  • Naseem Ahmed: Company secretary

Executive Team

  • CEO Momtaz Ajid
  • Director of Programming Paolo Fiorentini
  • Director of Commercial Enterprise Nahimul Islam
  • Events Manager Rodney Roodt
  • Marketing Manager Chiu Loh
  • Executive Assistant Rachel Salmon
  • Box office and facilities Fabian Begolli