A Theatre Trip for Every Child is about community cohesion, it's about local businesses and individuals investing in the future - the future of young people who are the future of Lewisham. It's about the leaders of today supporting the leaders of tomorrow. Let's make sure our young people have the best possible start in life.
We are asking you to help us crowdfund to raise an initial £10,000 to pay for the first 1000 trips.
'Every Child' is a community based, charitable campaign that will provide a free ticket for every five-year-old in the borough to go to the theatre. Jude Law is our Founding Patron and L&Q our Founding Sponsors.
Many children living in Lewisham are unable to experience arts and cultural activity due to barriers including cost, travel and lack of cultural capital deeply ingrained through longstanding deprivation in the borough. Arts and culture have a huge role to play in promoting wellbeing, stimulating community cohesion and tackling social isolation. Engaging children at a young age is proven to have a significant impact on their behaviours and habits as adolescents and adults. By engaging with children through schools, and establishing their relationship with, and right to attend arts venues, we hope to begin a lifelong connection to arts and culture, ensuring no future adult is locked out of cultural engagement.
Theatre gives children the opportunity to see life through a different lens and in doing so, it opens the doors of possibility for them creatively and socially. A community initiative and investment in the creative well being of children promotes social cohesion and a sense of empowerment.
Engaging with theatre is proven to benefit children in so many ways including:
• Promoting creativity
• Encouraging neural connections
• Supporting the development of problem-solving abilities and questioning techniques
• Helping children understand themselves and their world, and in connecting more fully with their environment
• Developing creativity in children allows them to think outside the box
• Promoting innovative thinking
• Allowing children to express themselves in a safe environment
Giving the gift of theatre is an experience that can last a lifetime. We invite you to join us in raising children who grow into confident adults, comfortable with themselves and proud to be part of a community that invested in their future.
As someone who grew up and went to school in Lewisham and has gone on to have a highy successful career in the Arts, 'Every Child' Founding Patron Jude Law knows about the magic of theatre and the potential impact of this project for the young people of Lewisham:
‘I am delighted to support this terrific initiative which has the potential to positively impact the lives of young children in Lewisham. It is crucial for the future of our communities that we find creative ways to nurture and support the next generation. Theatre has the power to inspire children and we must encourage them to follow their dreams, no matter how big.’
The 'Every Child' campaign is a pilot scheme to test a new model for supporting the community through private funds. The project will run for 2 years, at the Albany in Lewisham and ARC in Stockton. Each organisation has developed it's own strategy and we will each do our own fundraising. Any money raised in Lewisham, will stay in Lewisham and support our young people. It is our aspiration to develop this into a nationally recognised scheme.
The set-up and administration for this project is kindly supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. They have already given us funding to employ a part-time Campaign Manager meaning that everything we raise will go towards our community in Lewisham.
We are an artistic and community resource where diversity and creativity flourish, a space where new talent is nurtured and exposed to ideas from across the world. We work with lot sof different invididuals and organisations and provide opportunities for creative learning and community for many different groups. Our doors are always open to everyone.
As well as providing artistic activities and theatre we have a beautiful garden where you can come and get involved with growing tomatoes and courgettes, have a chat with one of our 6 chickens or just chill out in the sun.
We are based in the heart of Deptford, just off the high street and are very much driven by the cultural diversity and creative mix of our local community.
Last year over 180,000 people visited the Albany and used our facilities, including audiences of over 40,000 for more than 400 events. The Albany has four performance spaces, including its unique central performance space, with a capacity of 300 seated and 500 for standing events. Our programme encompasses a range of music, theatre and spoken word, as well as an array of participatory projects and other facilities include a café bar, rehearsal and meeting rooms for hire, and office space.
The Albany is re-establishing itself as a major London arts venue, with the people of Lewisham at its heart. A Theatre Trip For Every Child is a tangible way for us to bring together local schools, local people and local businesses, all working together for a brigher future for the young residents of our borough.
Please pledge what you can and share this campaign as widely as possible. Everyone who supports the campaign will recieve a hand written note from the child who has directly benefitted from their donation as well as many other terrific rewards.
If you are a headteacher and are interested in signing your school up to the scheme please get in touch. For all enquiries please email : [email protected]
