The Margins Project | Winter 2023 Update

14 December 2023

In a year that saw new and deeper challenges for so many, we thank you for your continued support of our vital work - now helping even more community members in crisis.

Read on for our final update of the year and we hope you stay connected with our fight for a better 2024 and beyond.

DEMAND IS UP, DONATIONS ARE DOWN

Our work continues to support even more at risk of critical living situations due to the cost-of-living crisis amongst other factors, but donations to fund our crucial services are down.

The dangerously cold Winter months are here. Please consider donating to or sharing The Margins Project donation page with your communities.

Donations could help fund:

• £7 One nutritious meal served to a guest at our Drop Ins.
• £10 Weekly support of one guest at our Drop Ins
• £26 One Advice & Engagement appointment.
• £35 Five nutritious meals served to guests at our Drop Ins.
• £52 One day of training at our accredited Supported Employment Programme.
• £70 Ten nutritious meals served to guests at our Drop Ins.
• £180 Individual end-to-end casework around housing or benefits.
• £1,257 One month of training at our accredited Supported Employment Programme.

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THE STATISTICS

Demand for The Margins Project services continues to rise; guests have increased by 24% since 2021-22 and by 119% since 2019-20, with 385 guests now supported – 232 people welcomed and fed at our bi-weekly drop-ins, including a new barber service, community engagement and drama workshops around social change and empowerment.

205 guests were advocated for, including around evictions prevention, benefits refusal appeals, advice and upskilling. 11 trainees were enrolled in our supported programme and referred to employers, 4 graduated and 2 are now in employment. We furthered our advocacy and policy influencing role around inequalities with decision-makers, both with Islington Council, our partner organisations and in Parliament.

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DROP INS

Everyone deserves a bit of festive cheer and we're thrilled to announce that corporate sponsors Slaughter and May are coming together with The Margins Project and Union Chapel Project teams to deliver special Drop In Christmas Party on Wednesday 20 December. Huge thanks to them all for coming together to bring some special to the end of our year.

Wednesday 20 December will be the last Drop-In date of 2023, welcoming guests again on Wednesday 3 January. See local food services over the festive period here.

BE THE CHANGE

Islington People's Theatre and Rehearse the Revolution ran 6 weeks of drop-in applied theatre and forum theatre workshops in the Margins Lower Hall for those in recovery/homeless or at risk of homelessness & those trying to access mental health services.

Check out the powerful work that was explored, alongside fantastic photos of community, here.

ADVICE & ENGAGEMENT SERVICE

We are extremely grateful to Slaughter and May for their grant towards The Margin's Project's Advice and Engagement Service.

This essential support service aims to improve the lives of those facing homelessness and hardship by providing expert legal advice around housing and benefits, as well as referrals to health, debt management, immigration and domestic violence specialist agencies. We also upskill people with transferable life, legal and practical skills, as well as creative engagement and employment opportunities.

Whilst breaking the cycles of unemployability and homelessness, we empower our guests to take agency over their situation, as a decisive step towards independence.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to Archie for his nomination in this year’s Voluntary Action Islington Award. Volunteering for over two years in The Margins Project, Archie’s dedication to the work of Margins and his lending at ease his expertise to directing and producing the charity’s film has been extraordinary.

THANKS TO OUR SURPLUS FOOD SUPPLIERS

We are hugely grateful to receive donations of surplus food from Belle Époque Patisserie, Budgens Islington, and The Felix Project; helping us feed those at disadvantage in our community whilst reducing food waste.

Thanks also to The Felix Project for this happy photo of one of our Drop In guests, taken by Ranald Mackechnie, that was presented to His Majesty King Charles III last month as they launched the Coronation Food Project that aims to create a fairer and more sustainable future.

Thank you for your continued support, from all at The Margins Project. It is vital for our survival and to improve the lives of our guests.

We hope you have a wonderful festive break and a incredible start to your new year.

WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT

There are plenty of ways to help The Margins Project help those in need;

• Donate and share.
• Spread the word of our work by sharing our film.
• Come dine at The Margins Café before a live Union Chapel show. You can reserve a delicious pre-show, in-house meal for free by booking the Eventbrite tickets that are linked on our show listings here.
• Interested in donating your time and skills? Contact [email protected] to find out more.