What is Islington Giving?
Islington Giving is about the power of place. When we launched in September 2010 we wanted to test the difference that unusual suspects could make. Foundations, businesses, voluntary organisations and residents came together to shine a light on poverty and inequality in a borough where many residents feel locked out of opportunities.
So what’s different?
Our programmes challenge public and voluntary services which traditionally close in the evenings and at weekends. We unlock Islington when and where residents tell us they want them. We’ve developed Saturday Nights Out, Friday Nights Out for young people. We’ve asked cafes, pubs, gardens to host get togethers for older people. We’ve funded arts organisations, older people’s groups and Arsenal to jointly develop weekend activities. We’ve developed Family Saturdays for young families to foster friendships and enjoy Islington. Over 1,500 volunteers are giving time.
We show residents and businesses issues facing Islington. Upper Street is often seen as Islington. It’s a shock to find Islington has the 2nd highest level of child poverty in London, the shortest life expectancy of men in the capital and the highest level of male suicide in England. Our Inside Islington tours show a different Islington and the organisations and people who make change happen.
We make the business case for investing in Islington. Businesses for Islington Giving fully launched in 2014 bringing companies such as Macquarie, Expedia and Bank of Tokyo into the borough. We now have a skilled volunteering, employment support and business mentors in our schools.
We ask for money and time to make change happen. Giving is at the heart of everything we do. We ask residents, trusts, businesses to join us and invest in Islington. In 2014 we literally put Islington Giving on the map by Walking the Line- the 13.1 mile borough boundary. Over 300 people walked this half marathon and raised funds. We even had a black cab offering a lift for anyone flagging. Our supporters undertook a 375 mile sponsored bike ride from the Angel of the North to the Angel Islington to raise funds and our profile as far as Lincolnshire and Cambridge. We’ve gathered support from local restaurants, cafes and businesses who our host events. By the end of 2014 we had raised £3.5m.
Whose idea was Islington Giving?
It was a synthesis of ideas and passions: Richard Cloudesley’s Charity and Breadsticks Foundation wanted to work differently, while the Morris Charitable Trust had a deep commitment to the borough. City Bridge Trust joined in 2010 and we had the support of our CVS (Council for Voluntary Service). Cripplegate Foundation was analysing the borough’s poverty stats and we wanted to do more than wait for people to come through the door. We’ve always been a proactive grant-maker and worked with others. It involves community development, using all our assets. This is a development and not a departure. On our own we can make very little dent on the issues we are addressing.
Was that a tough sell with your governors?
People were sceptical and asked if this was mission creep, so it was about building the right alliance, not fundraising for the sake of it. We look at key issues in the borough and see where we need to do more.
What qualities does a director need to pull it off?
Ambition, drive, seeing the opportunities and making things happen. Taking people with you. The partners’ ideas are as important as ours – their knowledge and what they are bring is different.
What makes a collaboration work?
You have to know what you want to achieve; you have to get some quick wins to build confidence working together; and you have to learn from your mistakes.
What’s been your biggest mistake?
I thought it would all happen fast. But it takes time, patience and really understanding what brings people to the table.
Your biggest challenge?
Bringing in people who would never think that they had a connection – such as City businesses, and some residents. Islington has the second highest level of child poverty in London and the highest level of mental ill-health. Many businesses and residents didn’t know this. We showed people that they could make a difference.
Your biggest achievement?
Putting the building blocks together – businesses, residents and trusts and foundations – and shining a light on poverty and inequality. Unless you’ve got that strong framework in place, forget it.
What is the role of Director?
It’s being an ambassador for Islington Giving, whether at Mansion House or at a street festival. Equally it’s making sure that programmes connect to the issues we want to address, so having a strategy in place that delivers.
How do you determine priorities?
We have a strong evidence base. Our reports, Invisible Islington and Distant Neighbours highlighted isolation, poverty and inequality and showed that people were feeling locked out. They also helped us win hearts and minds. We responded with programmes for young people living in poverty, opening opportunities for them at the weekend, offering mentoring or pathways into jobs. There are also programmes for older people and people with mental health issues.
What’s your vision for Islington Giving over the next five years?
We’ve only just started. We want to work with companies opening up more opportunities for Islington people. We are talking to residents about what they can do and how they can feel more connected. It’s about putting people at the heart of services instead of being consumers. We will continue to campaign to tackle poverty and inequality.
How important is your independence and 500-year history?
Critical. We don’t have an agenda except one for Islington and issues that haven’t changed since 1500.
What advice would you give to a director on a similar path?
If you want control, then something like Islington Giving isn’t for you. You have to move out of your comfort zone, you must reframe what you do. Foundations are ‘knowledge factories’; how can you use that knowledge better?
* Information for this article was partially provided from an article originally published in ACF’s Trust and Foundation News