Help Us Keep the Lights On and the Music Playing and Lead the Way in Sustainability
GROW is at a critical juncture. The only way we can get to our 11th year is with your help. We’re asking for your support to raise £40,000. This will enable us to activate a plan that will not only keep us open but also make us more self-sufficient and sustainable.
Our Vision
We’re committed to maintaining the quality and ethical ethos of our food, drink, and cultural offerings. We want to keep our dedicated venue team together, who are already working at full capacity. Your support will give us the best possible chance of financial viability in the long run.
Your generous donation will help us:
- Add to an existing successful funding bid to install solar panels, buy batteries, and speed up the process
- Convert to a CIC, opening up more funding opportunities
- Apply to extend our license terms for our garden terrace
- Extend Our License Terms: We aim to extend the license terms of our garden terrace, allowing the outside bar to be open later
- Pay off accumulated bills, allowing us to move forward on all of the above
By supporting us, you’re not just helping GROW survive - you’re fueling our journey to thrive and pioneer sustainability. Every contribution brings us one step closer to our goals. If we don’t hit our target, rest assured, we’ll still strive to activate as much of our plan as possible. THANK YOU!
Our Story:
GROW is an independent grassroots music venue in Hackney Wick, part of an ecosystem of artist and maker spaces and working yard called Grow Studios.
Since opening in 2014, GROW has hosted over 2000+ events and welcomed more than 500,000 people through our doors. Our events span genres and celebrate diverse cultures from around the globe to down the road. We host community and creative workshops with communal meals, fundraisers, have a veg box scheme, support local enterprises, host talks, fairs and spoken word and jams for emerging talent. Visit our blog and sustainability and wellbeing section to see what we get up to.
A Decade of Making a Difference
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we’re also facing a stark reality: without your help to invest in our long-term financial sustainability, we may not see our 11th year.
We started as a group of artists, driven by a vision to create a haven in Hackney Wick where people could escape, relax, enjoy music and art, and momentarily step away from the pressures of the world. We called ourselves an experiment in ethical and sustainable business, and we still do today.
Your Impact
Every time you’ve walked through our doors, you’ve helped us grow and thrive. Your support has allowed us to redirect funds to artists, musicians, local people, ethical suppliers, and community and cultural events. You’ve helped us champion eco-electricity and the London Living Wage. But most importantly, you’ve helped us challenge the status quo and make a real difference.
Our Challenges
The journey hasn’t been easy. In 2018, our rent increased by 250%, and in 2023, it rose a further 33%. We took on more studio space to keep the community together. Then came the pandemic, but with a team effort and a successful culture recovery fund bid, we persevered.
The gentrification of Hackney Wick brought new challenges. While we welcomed new communities, existing ones were displaced. With more venues opening, often with more favourable rent, meeting the changing expectations of the area has been tough.
The Cost of Living Crisis
The cost of living crisis hit us hard. Our energy prices increased by 400%, food and drink supply costs rose, and equipment and contractor prices soared. This put pressure on other bills too, including VAT, business rates, and our subsidised rent to Grow Studios. Despite these challenges, we didn’t compromise our ethos, and the music never stopped.
Our Future
We rely heavily on our spring and summer takings, which make up 66% of our annual income. This year, it’s been almost impossible to build the reserve we need to get us through the winter. It’s clear that if we don’t change now, we won’t survive another winter.
We’re good at being thrifty, DIY, and sharing skills, knowledge, and resources. We upcycle and reuse wherever possible. GROW was built on this ethos. But now, we need your help to continue our journey.
Our Commitment and the Challenge of Legacy
We believe in fair pay. Our team is always compensated for their work, and artists are paid as agreed. As founders, we often forego our pay to keep this space alive. It’s a choice we’ve made, but it’s not sustainable in the long run.
Legacy is a common challenge in grassroots music venues. As founders age, and face health issues, burnout, or other commitments, the question of succession arises. It’s not feasible to expect the same level of commitment from others. Even with willing successors, the issue is self-perpetuating. Financial sustainability is crucial for a smooth transition.
By supporting us, you’re not just helping GROW survive - you’re fueling our journey to thrive and pioneer sustainability. Every contribution brings us one step closer to our goals. If we don’t hit our target, rest assured, we’ll still strive to activate as much of our plan as possible. THANK YOU!