This article describes research undertaken to assess the need for a community leisure service in Tower Hamlets, part of London's East End.The results replicate the findings of other researchers; that many people with mental handicaps, though “living” in the community, remain isolated from the “community” in its widest sense. People in this study spent the majority of their free time engaged in housebound, solitary, passive, and family oriented activities. Pursuits which did involve “going out” tended to be for groups, such as attending clubs or sports activities.It was found that 84 per cent of respondents, that is, potential consumers, felt they would like to take part in leisure activities that they were not pursuing at the time of the study.The development of Tower Hamlets “Leisure‐Links” scheme is described, highlighting features of the scheme which distinguish it from other similar initiatives. Applications for fun