Hundreds of older people in Islington will experience the benefits of getting creative – thanks to new funding for an arts charity.

All Change will deliver sessions in poetry, music, dance and the visual arts, funded by a £100,000 grant from City Bridge Trust – the City of London Corporation’s charity funder.

The charity, which has been working in Islington for over 35 years, expects to help around 500 people via sessions from its base in Dingley Place and community settings such as care homes and day centres.

City Bridge Trust Chairman Giles Shilson said:

“The act of taking part in something creative, getting active and being around other people can have a profound effect on people’s mental and physical wellbeing – particularly later in life.

“This funding will help All Change to build on the success of its work in bringing together creative artists from a wide range of disciplines with older people – to the benefit and enrichment of both.”

The programme will be delivered through weekly arts sessions, artist in residence programmes, inter-generational sessions bringing older and younger people together and celebration events where the work is showcased.

Artists work with older people to develop work on themes important to them, which in recent years have included topics as diverse as the pandemic, Black Lives Matter and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

All Change Artistic Director Suzanne Lee said:

“The work we do is aimed at bringing together artists and communities to work collaboratively together and create art inspired by the things that matter to them.

“It’s about connecting people, building their confidence, nourishing and strengthening them to give them the resilience and strength to cope with challenges in their life such as the cost-of-living crisis.”

More information about All Change is at www.allchangearts.org

The City of London Corporation’s charity funder, City Bridge Trust, is London’s biggest independent grant giver. It awards grants of over £30 million a year to tackle disadvantage across the capital.

It has also made an extra £200 million available over five years from 2021 to 2026 to support London’s charity sector – www.citybridgetrust.org.uk

Case study

Eula Harrison, 97, from Islington, has been attending Well-Versed weekly creative writing and performance sessions at All Change since 2016. Eula writes and performs her own poetry, and has been part of live performances with All Change at the Almeida Theatre, Union Chapel and Sadler’s Wells.

She said: “For me the most important change is my confidence to interact with the group and also the wider public. This group is brilliant in its inclusion of everyone, to feel and be part of. Introducing us to new projects, suggestions and interests. Mixing with young ones too is wonderful, we can learn from each other.”

Anthony M Baker, 75 from Islington has been attending Well-Versed weekly creative writing and performance sessions at All Change since 2016. Anthony writes and performs his own poetry, and has been part of live performances with All Change at the Almeida Theatre, Rich Mix and Sadler’s Wells.

He said: “The most significant change for me, within and without, is that my ‘celebrity’ status – both in my local pub and the wider community, has improved significantly – although I refuse to give autographs!

“I feel closer to my friends and neighbours – because they have been invited to come along – to see me perform and join in. I bump into some of the people who I have performed with and that means something special to me.”

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK –  www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The City Corporation is the sole trustee of Bridge Houses Estates, a charity founded over 900 years ago to maintain London Bridge, and Members of its Court of Common Council form the Bridge House Estates Board.

Bridge House Estates is today responsible for maintaining Tower, London, Southwark, Millennium and Blackfriars Bridges. Its grants team, City Bridge Trust – founded in 1995 – awards over £30 million a year to good causes across the capital.

It has also made an extra £200 million available over five years from 2021 to 2026 to support London’s charity sector – www.citybridgetrust.org.uk

Tim Fletcher | Media officer – public services
City of London Corporation
07738 862229 | tim.fletcher@cityoflondon.gov.uk