Increasing access to opportunities
We will work to increase access to opportunities for residents, to help people in Islington live a good life.
We want more people in Islington to be aware of, and have access to, opportunities that help them live a good life. We do this by:
- Responding to local need through the delivery of new funding programmes
- Responding to new and emerging needs flexibly through fundraising and grant-making
- Funding local groups to provide life-changing opportunities
- Resident-led grant and decision making
We believe our residents who take part in, and benefit from, the groups and projects we fund should also participate in the decision-making about how our grants are awarded. This is where residents’ panels can help.
Our Alumni is a group of Islington residents who have helped to deliver our work across Islington. This includes members of our previous residents’ panels, – Young Grant Makers, Golden Grant Makers, and Family Panel – as well as people who have taken part in other projects.
When the Covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020 it immediately became apparent that as a local charity, well integrated into the fabric of the voluntary and community sector in Islington, we needed to respond quickly to help groups adapt to meet the needs of the people they support. Our fundraising appeal, which raised over £400,000 and supported over 40 local groups through a very challenging time.
In 2021 we launched the Make it Happen fund in partnership with local housing associations, which offers small grants to support local ideas that benefit communities across Islington. Funded projects so far have covered a wide range of community activities that bring people together and create new opportunities for residents – from a dog show to creating a therapeutic garden
