Over the past few weeks there has been a surge in acts of kindness and support for the live entertainment industry, health industry, companies and individuals in need.

We’ve been running our own campaigns to help fundraise for our venues and charity partners that need support, but our clients have been running their own inspiring activities.

They have been giving away products, tickets and spaces, as well as fundraising for the industry and showing public signs of support in the digital and physical world. We’re extremely proud to know and work with all of them.

Here is a short video and more info on what our clients have been doing:

Updated 30 April 2020

Supporting the local community

With many national initiatives taking place, our clients are doing all they can to help those just beyond their doorstep.

From a food bank, free meals for health workers to a free book service to those in isolation – the Hyde Park Book Club is constantly doing all they can to help their local Leeds community.

Blackpool Winter Gardens and other venues have created a Buddy scheme to help those in isolation get in touch with others. From shopping and deliveries, to just saying hello and chatting or video calling online. 

Northern Monk Brewing Company recently gave away 5000 cans of beer to health workers, Cloudwater Brew Co are giving away NHS Care Packages, and both Cloudwater and Wylam Brewery have joined 8 other breweries from across the UK to encourage the public to gift pints to the NHS in their ‘Buy the NHS a Pint’ campaign.

Supporting staff while venues are dark

Meanwhile, some venues including Clwb Ifor Bach are fundraising for their self-employed staff and freelancers while venue doors are shut, and artists like The National have started fundraising for their own crew too.

Public signs of support

From the iconic O2 Academy Brixton to the O2 Manchester Apollo, Academy Music Group venues across the country have been showing their support through physical signage and many other venues have been lighting up their buildings every Thursday.

Free concerts for health workers

There are also shows going on sale specifically for health workers across the UK, from Manchester to Sheffield, Cardiff and Brighton. Meanwhile at Portsmouth Guildhall and Brighton they are giving away a free tickets to NHS workers with donations and ticket purchases.

Fundraising through merch

Some of the UK’s best loved festivals including Download, Lovebox and the Isle of Wight Festival have started selling festival merchandise to raise cash for those in need and have been getting brilliant results.

Even artists are now getting involved…..

…..and so are the Theatre community….

…and now venues too!

Lending space

While tours and events are on hold, many venues are repurposing their spaces to help important causes.

Utilita Arena in Newcastle has given free access to their car park for healthcare patients and workers.

FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield has turned its car park into a drive through blood test service.

Meanwhile the legendary SEC in Glasgow has been transformed into a temporary medical facility NHS Louisa Jordan.

Fundraising through content

Many clients have been keeping fans entertained with streaming sessions, playlists, quizzes and exclusive content (see our streaming guides for more).

King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Gigs in Scotland and Camp Bestival all added a fundraising element to turn views into cash for those that really need support.

Fundraising for projects

Finally, some clients are running direct fundraising schemes to assist the NHS, including SWG3 who have successfully funded a £50,000 campaign to support the production of PPE at The Innovation School at Kelvinside Academy.

In just five days, the venue raised over £58,000, which will go directly to the production of laser-cut visors for frontline NHS workers, and the target has been raised. The significant funds will help to dramatically increase the rate of production from 3,000 per day to 5,000 per day.

Lovebox Booker Rich McGinnis has also started up a a PPE project to create equipment and give to the NHS free of charge, and Gigs In Scotland project For The Love Of Scotland raised over £140k for Masks for Scotland,

We’re trying our best to keep up with all of these acts of kindness and requests of support, and are sharing them on our Twitter feed. If you’d like anything featured, just drop us a line.