To listen to Amy read this blog post, click here.
‘The doubling of the donations during The Big Give is so delicious - I've just chucked fivers at some of my favourite theatres (Unicorn Theatre, Polka Theatre, Jackson’s Lane, and Lyric Hammersmith). I've spent £23, and with Gift Aid I've raised £48. Magic.’
Something I posted on Linkedin about a year ago, and I’m starting to think about what this year will look like.
My charitable giving this year has mainly focused on people across the world who’ve been forced into the most desperate of circumstances; absolutely urgent, and full of frustration and anxiety that global politics and human violence means it isn’t getting to the people it’s meant for fast enough.
I’m looking forward this Christmas to doing what I do every year (to a greater or lesser extent, depending on what’s possible for my budget), and pointing some of my money towards the creative arts in the UK, via the Big Give Christmas Challenge. I take the chance to think about the buildings, the shows, the people who’ve really stood out to me over the last year. Who’s made me laugh? Who’s made me cry? Who’s made me jump to my feet at the curtain call?
I tend to give a fiver (unlike lots of other platforms, the Big Give takes any donation from £1 upwards), and the match-funding available means I get to see it double before my eyes. With Gift Aid, I watch £5 turn into £11.25.
It feels like playing Secret Santa for some of my favourite creatives doing beautiful things. It’s spending intentionally, and within a budget I’ve set aside for that purpose. I’m going to let myself take pleasure in it. It’s part of the festive season, part of gift-giving, and makes me feel lighter and better about the world.
Zoo Co is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge this year for the first time
At Noon on Tuesday 3 December, this link will open and we’ll have a week to try and raise the frankly intimidating amount of £3,200, to create a matched pot of £6,400, plus Gift Aid.
We haven’t done many public-giving campaigns before - ‘theatre is better when everyone is invited’ means to us not creating more financial obligations around access to the arts. We’ve been lucky enough to receive sturdy support from the Arts Council, and from Trusts & Foundations like Esmée Fairbairn, the Foyle Foundation and the Vogue World Fund.
But like all arts organisations at the moment, the funding landscape is really stretched, so we’re learning to spread out and diversify the ways we bring in money. We’re trying to earn more, offering Access Consultancy and Neurodiversity Awareness Training to other companies. And we’re trying to create a mixed bag of donations - still keeping strong emphasis on Trusts & Foundations, but welcoming individual giving and corporate support too. If shows like Perfect Show for Rachel mean something to you, now’s your chance to be our Secret Santa!
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