Big Give
Did you know Union Chapel has free activities to upskill, reduce loneliness, and break down barriers to arts, heritage, and culture?
Here's how you can help us share more high quality arts, skills and community support...
Bookmark this page as Big Give will double donations made here from midday 18-25 March 2025 to help us bring more opportunities and inspiration to our community.
Together, let's raise £7500 for it to be doubled at no extra cost to you to reach £15,000 so we can bring more inclusive arts and heritage opportunities to communities including children and those facing homelessness and other social justice issues.
Inspiring Communities, Engaging for Change
Union Chapel is home to an award-winning venue, a world-renowned organ and education programme, a radical working church, and frontline homelessness support charity The Margins Project. Our programmes combine our long history of social justice with our reputation for music, arts & heritage.
"Union Chapel is not just a venue; it is the centre of the hub. It is a community organisation. It is a space of belonging." - Amanuel, Head of Margins
Situation
Union Chapel understands the transformative power of the arts. Yet, many communities are still excluded from these opportunities due to financial, cultural, accessibility or social barriers. We believe arts, music and heritage is for all.
“Union Chapel is a very special place because, as well as being one of the best venues in the word, it runs important community outreach programmes. Let’s keep this amazing venue open and let them do the wonderful work they do in the community as well.” - Frank Turner, award-winning musician
Solution
Union Chapel has always championed social justice; from free education for Victorian children to supporting suffragettes, same-sex marriage, those facing homelessness and crisis, or setting the stage for emerging artists. We continue our space as a vibrant hub for music and culture, with its iconic organ, concerts, spoken word, talks, training & workshops. Union Chapel’s programmes impact people’s lives. Your donation will sustain and amplify this impact, helping us meet the growing need.
Your support invests in community, heritage, creativity and social justice, helping us break down barriers to culture.
Donations Doubled 18-25 March
Want to help but can't donate right now?
Please spread the word from 18 - 25 March 2025, directing to this page to help us reach our goal. You may want to use this artwork too, or share our Big Give posts that will start appearing on our on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or X (Twitter).
Campaign Aims
- Improve the wellbeing along with opportunities for growth for local communities, by engaging them in our arts programmes
- Support emerging musicians and artists through performance opportunities, education and workshop programmes, and mentoring and support
- Offer free participatory workshops and training to young people and underrepesented communities including refugees and migrants, people facing homelessness and other critical living crisis.
- Improve access, diversity and inclusion to our programmes by engaging with our audiences and communities
"Union Chapel is a very special and unique venue. The fact that they also impact and inspire the local community and through art, music and education is something that I happily give my complete support to." - OKIEM, award-winning musician
Understanding the Target
All funds will go to our arts & impact work, which will increase with the refurbishment of our Sunday School Hall allowing for more arts for impact activity to take place including working using heritage, drama, creative writing, music and visual arts, to improve skills, confidence, social cohesion, open to all and with an emphasis on equality, with a particular focus on the inclusion of specific groups identified as disproportionally excluded or isolated, from a community consultation.
Impact
The work will make a positive impact on local communities by empowering participants through inclusive & high-quality creative activities, enabling all to create, learn, connect & thrive and improving:
- Community pride & perceptions
- Social cohesion & belonging
- Participation in community life, arts, culture & creativity
- Skills building, confidence, opportunities
- Improved health & wellbeing; reduced loneliness & isolation
Set your reminders now to join us here from midday 18 - 25 March 2025 to have your donations doubled at no extra cost to you.
Photo credits:
Union Chapel stage and interior with dramatic lighting forLive at the Chapel © James Bridle, Union Chapel red brick tower and entrance © Daniela Sbrisny, Margins volunteer handing guests a plate of food in the drop-in dining room © Janie Airey and Cloudesley, Alison Gardiner art © Richard Burton, New Voices Talent Competition Finale Soundcheck © Gabriel Blue Lewis, Be The Change drama workshops © Islington People's Theatre, Participants of the Antique Furniture Restoration Workshop © Union Chapel Project, Tag A Tile for Sunday School Hall roof © Union Chapel Project, Stage Rebuild Workshops © Richard Burton, Sunday School Hall renovation CGI © Natalia Zwardon, young organ student at Open Day recital © Nicola & Len Morcombe, Margins Support Employment Programme trainees cooking © Amanuel Woldesus, Heritage Workshop participants holding a wooden window frame © Harry Chapman @vi_olo.
STATS
Demonstrated impact of arts & creativity on civic engagement, community cohesion & wellbeing: Improved mental health and wellbeing: participating in arts activities demonstrated as directly boosting communities’ fulfilment and aspirations –with participants 38% more likely to report good health; cognitive abilities increased by up to 17%; Participation in structured arts activities is demonstrated to develop new skills and behaviours; for students from low-income families, to increase educational attainment by 300%, employability and job retention; propensity to volunteer by 200%; to vote by 20%.
(Cultural Learning Alliance, The Case for Cultural Learning, 2017; Arts Council England, The Value of Arts & Culture to People & Society, 2014).