A Shoreditch café is launching a space for Londoners to explore happiness and what it means to have a meaningful life.

The Canvas, in Hanbury Street, is being backed by Action for Happiness, an international movement for positive social change and has introduced happy-themed events this month including lunchtime inspirational TED Talks on Tuesdays; the launch of yoga classes on Wednesdays; and free weekend screenings of documentaries focusing on well-being.

There will also be a drop-in choir and daily body confidence workshops, and visitors can become part of an evolving piece of live art by contributing to the positive messages and memories scribed across every wall.

Ruth Rogers, founder of Body Gossip and The Canvas, said: “When launching The Canvas, as with Body Gossip, I had one aim; to make people feel better about themselves. That’s the motivation behind everything we do. To be welcomed as London’s first Happy Cafe is amazing.”