Features Archive

We need to talk: About families in lockdown

Ambika Shekhawat has been working as a therapist for the past six years at practices in both Shoreditch and Canary …

by Joshua Lamb/ May 20, 2020/ Coronavirus, Features, General Features, Lockdown lifestyle/

Brick Lane’s Beigel Bake reveals recipe for iconic bagels for stay-at-home bakers

Some bagels travel many miles from the bakeries of Israel to our plates but there’s one great bagel that is …

by Ana Kozlova/ May 20, 2020/ Coronavirus, Features, Lockdown lifestyle, Tower Hamlets/

Stepney City farm shares gardening tips

Gardening at home is trending as lockdown heads into its 51 day, with compost selling out and online tutorials gaining …

by Mieke Faeste/ May 13, 2020/ Community, Health, People, Tower Hamlets, Uncategorized/

The pubs still open for business for Croydon residents

Pubs across Croydon have begun doing food takeaway, beer & wine deliveries, online pub quizzes, movie screenings, and music events. …

by Ana Kozlova/ May 12, 2020/ Croydon, Features, What's On This Week/

We Need To Talk: About our children in lockdown

Tanya Campbell-Rochester, 45, has been practicing as a therapist in Lewisham for the past six years, specialising in counselling for …

by Joshua Lamb/ May 11, 2020/ Features, Health, Lewisham, Lockdown lifestyle, People/

“I can really sit with my emotions” When isolating alone helps mental health

The UK has been in lockdown for almost seven weeks. Many are with family, a partner or friends, but what …

by Rebecca Huber/ May 9, 2020/ Coronavirus, Features, Lockdown lifestyle, Tower Hamlets/

Good deeds in Hackney, Lewisham, Croydon and Tower Hamlets during lockdown

The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown has seen many volunteers and charities step up to help the most vulnerable members …

by Eastlondonlines/ May 8, 2020/ Community, Coronavirus, Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, People, Tower Hamlets/

We Need to Talk: Taking care of our relationships during Covid-19

As the lockdown enters its seventh week, challenges are emerging for couples, and putting a spotlight on relationship issues. Three …

by Mieke Faeste/ May 7, 2020/ Coronavirus, Croydon, General Features, Lockdown lifestyle, People, Tower Hamlets/

We Need To Talk: About Anxiety and Social Isolation

The maintenance of mental health is an important aspect of life that many people around the world deal with on …

by Joshua Lamb/ May 3, 2020/ Coronavirus, Features, General Features, Hackney, Health, Lockdown lifestyle/

Ramadan under lockdown: three Muslims tell their stories

Mosques are shut and Muslims across Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, and Tower Hamlets started observing their holy month of Ramadan last …

by Valentina Romagnoli/ May 2, 2020/ Coronavirus, Croydon, Features, Lockdown lifestyle/

‘How can someone this nice be this lonely?’ The people for whom lockdown is just another week

Half a million older people go at least five days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all. …

by Evie Breese/ April 23, 2020/ Features, Lead Stories/

The sudden death of the London living room

Rent in the ELL boroughs are so high that more and more people use the living room as an extra …

by Eleonora Girotto/ April 23, 2020/ Features, Lead Stories/

The Lockdown Diaries, Day 4: ‘Is this all a dream? Nope, just a hangover’

In an unprecedented situation, the entire population of the UK has found itself in isolation, socially distancing and in lockdown …

by Evie Breese/ April 23, 2020/ Features/

The Lockdown Diaries, Day 3: ‘We’re close enough that I could walk over and touch him’

In an unprecedented situation, the entire population of the UK has found itself in isolation, socially distancing and in lockdown …

by Evie Breese/ April 22, 2020/ Features, Lead Stories/

Lost in translation: my experience of loneliness as an Italian in London

When I arrived in London, the language barrier felt like an insurmountable wall separating me from everyone else. Nothing could …

by Eleonora Girotto/ April 22, 2020/ Features, Lead Stories/

Is London Lonely: Is our city really that harsh?

London consistently tops the lists for the loneliest city in the world. Every single survey we looked at told us …

by Clara Hill/ April 22, 2020/ Features, Lead Stories/

Comment: The internet doesn’t break social ties, it can make them stronger

It is often claimed that young people are losing the ability to connect with others – but a new generation …

by Clara Hill/ April 22, 2020/ Features, Lead Stories/

The Lockdown Diaries, Day 2: ‘One of my neighbours gave me a surgical mask’

In an unprecedented situation, the entire population of the UK has found itself in isolation, socially distancing and in lockdown …

by Evie Breese/ April 21, 2020/ Features, Lead Stories/

One man’s journey out of loneliness: ‘All I needed was one genuine connection’

After coming out as gay, the actor and writer Denholm Spurr found himself homeless and increasingly isolated. He recalls the …

by Eastlondonlines/ April 21, 2020/ Features, Lead Stories/

Train drain: ‘I am around thousands of people … but I feel like I’m always alone’

Long commutes are a time to read a book, plug in to some tunes, and have some me time. But …

by Georgina Gambetta/ April 21, 2020/ Data, Features, Lead Stories, Tower Hamlets, Transport/

The Lockdown diaries, Day 1: ‘I’m a loose pea in an empty freezer drawer’

In an unprecedented situation, the entire population of the UK has found itself in isolation, socially distancing and in lockdown …

by Evie Breese/ April 20, 2020/ Features, Lead Stories/

The solution to loneliness in London? Rent controls and social housing

As Hackney and Tower Hamlets’ house prices soar, saying goodbye to family and friends is becoming the norm. In day …

by Georgina Gambetta/ April 20, 2020/ Data, Features, Hackney, Housing, Tower Hamlets/

How can you be lonely in a city of eight million people?

To kick off our series Is London Lonely? we interrogate the data: who struggles to make social connections, what causes …

by Georgina Gambetta/ April 20, 2020/ Data, Features, Lead Stories/

The debt adviser’s guide to managing your money

On the final day of #ThePerfectStorm, we ask the experts for their advice: in the face of the perfect storm, …

by Lois Borny/ April 18, 2020/ General Features, Lead Stories/

When one job isn’t enough, it’s time for a side hustle

On the final day of #ThePerfectStorm, our series on debt, we spoke to four Londoners who have turned their passions …

by Lois Borny/ April 18, 2020/ General Features, Lead Stories, People/

‘Working to pay off my debt landed me in hospital’

Getting out of debt can push people to breaking point. On day 3 of #ThePerfectStorm, one local ex-debtor recalls how …

by Lois Borny/ April 18, 2020/ General Features, Lead Stories, People/

In debt? Could you be suffering from ‘financial PTSD’?

On day two of #ThePerfectStorm, we spoke to financial wellbeing coach Catherine Morgan, about “emotional spending” – and how, for …

by Daisy Lester/ April 17, 2020/ Features, Health, Lead Stories, People/

Coronavirus diaries: the cost of a crisis

On day two of #ThePerfectStorm, three people who have taken a financial hit from the Coronavirus pandemic share their stories. …

by Eastlondonlines/ April 17, 2020/ Features, General Features, Lead Stories/

How the Klarna generation is ‘walking blindfolded’ into debt

On day two of #ThePerfectStorm, we investigate the impact of buy-now pay-later schemes – is our shopping causing our credit …

by Eleanor Magill/ April 17, 2020/ General Features, Lead Stories/

The Covid crash: the devastating financial impact of Coronavirus

This pandemic is leaving hundreds of thousands of people in debt. On day one of our new series #ThePerfectStorm, ELL …

by Eleanor Magill/ April 16, 2020/ Features/

Young, female and broke: why debt is a feminist issue

On day one of #ThePerfectStorm, our series lifting the lid on the spiralling debt crisis, we explore why more and more …

by Daisy Lester/ April 16, 2020/ Commentary, Data, Features, Lead Stories, Society, Uncategorized/

The debt crisis: The product of a perfect storm

On day 1 of #ThePerfectStorm, our series lifting the veil off the UK’s debt crisis, we look at how the …

by Eleanor Magill/ April 16, 2020/ Employment, General Features, Lead Stories/

Debt: A perfect storm

Lois Borny, Daisy Lester, Elle Magil Despite three quarters of Brits worrying about their finances, money is still considered a taboo in conversation. The …

by Eastlondonlines/ April 16, 2020/ Data, Features, Lead Stories, Uncategorized/

Fighting back: East London’s history of racism

As racist and religious hate crime rises by 40 per cent in Eastlondonlines’ boroughs, we have produced a timeline, to …

by Dominic Webb/ April 15, 2020/ Croydon, Features, Hackney, Lead Stories, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets/

Rabbi Herschel Gluck: ‘We are not here to be vigilantes; we are here for justice’

Racist and religious hate crime across all Eastlondonlines boroughs has increased by 40 per cent. But our communities are fighting …

by Barney Stone/ April 15, 2020/ Crime, Features, General Features, Hackney, Lead Stories, People/

Are those in power doing enough to combat hate crime?

When we asked our councillors and police how they were combatting hate crime, we were met with silence. The authorities …

by Jordan Lane/ April 15, 2020/ Crime, Croydon, Data, Features, Hackney, Lead Stories, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets/

Trains, trams – and racism: how East Croydon Station became unsafe for minorities

Recent figures reveal that East Croydon station has more than twice the number of racists incidents than any other station …

by Jordan Lane/ April 14, 2020/ Crime, Croydon, Data, Features, Hackney, Lead Stories, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets/

Hate crime is increasing – it is time to fight back

Hate crime is surging in our boroughs. In Lewisham, homophobic hate crime has increased by 100 per cent, whilst anti-Semitic …

by Barney Stone/ April 14, 2020/ Croydon, Data, Features, Hackney, Lead Stories, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets/

COVID-19 hate crimes continue against East Asians

The current coronavirus pandemic has created an environment of fear that is manifesting itself in increased racist abuse of Chinese …

by Jordan Lane/ April 14, 2020/ Crime, Croydon, Data, Features, Hackney, Lead Stories, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets/

Hateful London: Unveiling the hate crime crisis

Over the last 12 months, racist and religious hate crime has risen by 40 per cent throughout Eastlondonlines boroughs. According to the …

by Barney Stone/ April 14, 2020/ Croydon, Data, Features, Hackney, Lead Stories, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets/