The Almeida is rooted in the vibrant but unequal borough of Islington, where over 43% of children live in poverty. As a local theatre with a world-leading reputation, we have a unique civic role to play in bringing the transferable skills and benefits of creativity to all young people in Islington.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Islington is one of the most unequal places to live in the UK. Since 2024, child poverty has risen from 38% to 43%. Combined with the continued reduction of drama provision in local schools (40% no longer offer GCSE Drama), more young people face barriers to opportunity. At a time of increasing disadvantage, access to drama, and its proven benefits for wellbeing, confidence and educational outcomes, has never been more vital.
Through hundreds of workshops, new opportunities for students and teachers, and expanded digital resources, we’ll harness the power of drama to build confidence, support wellbeing and inspire future careers. This academic year, with past support from the Big Give, our free-to-access schools programme reached more local primary, secondary and SEND schools than ever. We want to sustain this engagement for years to come, maximising our impact to make creativity a part of growing up in Islington.
