The Accumulate charity is London’s Art School for the Homeless. It uses creativity to enrich and elevate the lives of people that are homeless and living in hostels and temporary accommodation. Our workshops cover photography, fashion, sculpture, radio, ceramics, creative writing, textile printing, fashion and illustration and are run in collaboration with major art and cultural institutions including Autograph, The Tate Modern, The Barbican, Somerset House, The Photographers’ Gallery, The Saatchi Gallery and The Courtauld Gallery.
The Accumulate participants often come from difficult, complicated and diverse backgrounds, including abusive relationships, mental health and substance abuse, foster care and prison backgrounds. Through the Accumulate programme they become engaged in something personally rewarding and meaningful, develop their life skills and self-esteem and start to have the ambition to think and plan for a more positive future.
As well as our creative workshops, Accumulate provides employability programmes, Creative Futures and Make Art To Teach Art (with The University of Arts London). We also offer scholarships for participants to progress their creative education on Access in Art and Design courses at Ravensbourne University London and Morley College for Adult Education. This is a life-changing experience that radically transforms a person’s life and future. So far, 35 people have received Accumulate scholarships and 17 of these have gone on to study BA degrees, 2 are now starting MA's. None of this would have been possible without Accumulate.
What are we fundraising for?
The Accumulate Art Sale will help fund our art workshops, creative employability courses and scholarships for the homeless community. We have more demand than ever for our services and our costs are increasing. Your support will allow more people to access our provision and change their lives through creativity.
What our participants say :
“I [am] extremely grateful for Accumulate as my life might have been entirely different had it not been for such an organisation…all the course leaders/tutors help me to gain self-belief and self-esteem...” Crystal, Accumulate Scholarship recipient and Trustee.
“Thank you…for bringing me into these opportunities, couldn’t have done it without Accumulate!” Sophie, Creative Futures participant.
“Accumulate has really been a lifesaver for me.” Nikol, Creative Futures and Make Art to Teach Art participant and Accumulate Scholarship recipient.
“Thank you so much couldn’t of got here if it wasn’t for Accumulate’s workshops, scholarship & everyone motivating me….thank you for helping me open a door I never thought I’d reach.” Lisalouise, Accumulate Scholarship recipient.
“I am so happy to be part of something real that really changes people’s lives” Bruno, Creative Futures and Make Art to Teach Art participant and Accumulate Scholarship recipient.