Islington Giving

Great to be at the Common Ground conference today alongside partners and changemakers from across the country for an inspiring conversation on the power of place-based giving.

We were proud to hear from Deannia from our Islington Giving Alumni, whose reflections helped ground the conversation in what community-led change really looks and feels like in practice.

An excerpt from Deannia’s spoken word reads:

“Place Based Giving brings residents, businesses, and local groups together to change their neighbourhoods. Everybody’s got something to give time, skills, money and when we pool it all, we help people turn their ideas into action.” 💜

We’ve explored the systems shaping place today, the history, pressures and what it takes to build real community power, as well as the power of participatory grantmaking.

Thank you to our coalition partner for hosting.

Huge congrats to for winning the Premier League!🏆

22 years later since the Invincible’s triumph in 2003-04, Arsenal have once again brough the Premier League title back to North London.

To everyone associated with Arsenal FC and our local community partners: , , and the whole of Islington on this historic achievement. Islington is proud of you! ❤️

Could your business turn this historic moment into something powerful for our community too? 🤩

Whether it’s donating a portion of profits from a day of sales or running a fundraiser for Islington Giving, get in touch if you’d like to get involved. We’d love to hear from you.

Thank you to for your support already!

“A safe place to land”: what’s the link between mental health and housing? 🏡 💚

This week on and following
, we spoke with Jamie from Stonewall Housing, one of our local partners, about the deep connection between mental health and housing – and why having somewhere safe to live can be the foundation for everything else.

“At Stonewall Housing, we see every day just how tightly mental health and housing are linked. Without somewhere safe and stable to live, it’s incredibly hard for people to focus on their wellbeing…

But when that foundation is there we see people grow in resilience, confidence and independence. That’s why our work isn’t just about housing. It’s about creating environments where people feel safe, supported and able to move forward.”

Read the full article on our website and at the link in our stories 🔗

What can happen when communities take action for mental health? 💚✊🏽

This , we spoke to Street Talk founder Pippa about what it means to take action for mental health in our communities.

“I loved this question because it took me back to my motivation for setting up Street Talk which takes psychotherapy into hostels and day centres for vulnerable women.

At that time I was an NHS psychotherapist based in a hospital and became mindful that the people who most needed therapy, vulnerable people, on the margins never made it into the therapy room.

They were excluded whether consciously or unconsciously by the service. I was unhappy about that and in a spirit of experimentation, I started taking therapy into a day centre for women in street prostitution in East London…”

Street Talk – one of our local community partners – provides counselling for women who are often excluded from traditional services due to complex and overlapping needs, including homelessness, lack of access to public funds, no GP registration, or living in fear and hiding.

Read how our latest grant to Street Talk is helping bring therapy to women most in need and the full story at the link in our comments.

“We celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week to promote positive mental health, reduce stigma, and increase public understanding of mental wellbeing…” ~ Kevan Tomlin,

What does mental health support look like when community, creativity, and connection come together? 💜

At Hillside Clubhouse – an Islington mental health charity – it looks like art workshops, poetry, music, shared stories, and people rebuilding confidence and rediscovering purpose together. 🎨

This year’s collaborative installation, This is My Mental Health, uses oversized jigsaw pieces to explore two powerful questions:

🧩 What inspires you and makes a good day?
🧩 What challenges you and makes a bad day?

The finished artwork will be unveiled at Wellness Through Words & Music on Thursday 21 May

“The completed pieces will eventually come together to form one interlocking collaborative installation, symbolising both the uniqueness of each person’s journey and the importance of connection and community.” ~ Kevan Tomlin, Hillside Clubhouse 🧩💚

🔗 Sign up at the link and read the full story in the comments.

📷 Photos: An art installation they are currently working on as part of the Mental Health Awareness Week creative workshops, and some stills from the first Wellness Through Words & Music event last year.

A three-tiered approach to mental health support 💚

More people than ever are recognising and talking about mental health, whether diagnosed or not.

Arguably, the stigma that once surrounded it is slowly lifting, and that shift alone is making it easier for people to ask for help, show up, and stay connected.

One of the clearest examples of this in action is the work happening at The Manna – a daycentre for homeless and marginalised people.

“At the Manna, we have a three-tiered approach:

🏡 clinical support from our nurse and GP sessions;
🍀 one-to-one work with our advice and advocacy worker who has good judgement on when to refer on to the many specialist organisations in the borough;
👩🏼‍🌾 and our activity groups which promote well-being: art, poetry, gardening, and walking.

The Manna is one of our local partners working alongside Islington residents to improve mental health, reduce isolation, and strengthen community connection.

Read more about some of our recently funded projects at the link in our comments.

This week as part of and , we’re sharing Aziz’s powerful and hopeful story. 💚

Soon after arriving in Islington from Sudan, Aziz took part in Common Ground, an All Change () programme for people seeking sanctuary in Islington.

Aziz wrote his poem: ‘I Still Rise From the Fire’, after taking part. The poem references difficult themes from his experiences of the war back home in Sudan, but also aspirations of hope and freedom moving forward.

An except from the poem reads: “War tried to silence me. But I found my voice. Now I live far from home, but my heart still remembers. Freedom is heavy, yet I carry it with pride. Because even far from home, I still rise.”

In November, he performed it at an open-mic poetry night in Caledonian Road, which he won. He performed the poem again at a “Borough of Sanctuary” celebration event at the Union Chapel.

Aziz said: “Writing the poem, I just decided to think about everything in my life, and write it down. My life in Sudan was difficult. It’s better for me to share my story and to talk about things like this, to express some difficult emotions but in a creative way…”
 
All Change – supported and funded by Islington Giving – delivers world-class arts projects led by local communities, bringing together people experiencing inequality and discrimination to collaborate with artists on creative work that makes a lasting positive difference.

🔖 Read the full article by Finn Logue, Islington Tribune April 2026.

This , we’re focusing on the power of 💚

Because while raising awareness matters, real change happens when people come together to take action for each other’s mental health and wellbeing, whether that’s by supporting local projects through donations or delivering vital work in the community.

Over the week ahead, we’ll be sharing inspiring stories, ideas and actions from some of our recently funded local projects, exploring questions like:

🔸What happens when communities stop waiting for change and start creating it together?

🔸What small actions can support your own mental health or someone else’s?

🔸How can we all help make Islington feel more connected, supported and hopeful?

We’re proud to work with residents, groups and organisations across Islington who are tackling inequality, strengthening community connections and championing positive mental health and wellbeing.

👀 Keep your eyes peeled this week for more content highlighting local projects that are making a real difference across Islington.

Environmental justice is crucial if we want to live in a world where all people can flourish alongside the planet we depend on.” ~ Lydia, 🍀

This week’s spotlight shines on Allie’s Art Club: Rooted – an inspiring community project supported through our Make it Happen fund.

🎨 Rooted is a powerful art and poetry zine exploring environmental justice through the voices and creativity of 10 local creatives.

To celebrate the publication, Allie’s Art Club is hosting a FREE community picnic – and all are welcome to attend!🌼🧺

📅 17 May 1-4PM
📍 Highbury Fields

Do you have an inspiring project or event idea and want to “Make it Happen”?

Apply for up to £500 through our Make it Happen fund and turn your idea into reality.

The next deadline for applications is 11 May 2026, 10am. Read more and apply at the link in our comments.

 

📣 Last chance to apply to our Make it Happen fund!

Are you an Islington resident, group or organisation?

Have an idea that could bring people together, improve wellbeing, or make a positive difference in Islington?

We’re offering funding of up to £500 to help you turn it into reality.

From projects that boost mental and physical wellbeing, to creating safer spaces for marginalised communities, or tackling local challenges head-on – no idea is too small to create meaningful impact.

Please check the eligibility criteria before applying – and get in touch if you have any questions or need further support. We’re here to help!

📅 Application deadline: Monday 11 May 2026, 10am

Read more at the link in our bio or stories 🔗