Community
At TIC we love Islington and feel privileged to work in such an exquisite area. Unfortunately, very few people who visit Islington’s Upper Street and many other beautiful and historical parts could even start to guess that according to Cripplegate Foundation Annual Review 2010 Islington is the 5th most deprived Borough in London and the 14th most deprived local authority in England.
Being a local letting agent in the area we take responsibility to educate people and to raise awareness. Hence, we support the Union Chapel, an amazing charity that has so much to offer to the wider community.
Margins Project
The Sunday Drop-In is the hub of the Margins Project. Every Sunday afternoon, we welcome up to 180 guests for a hot nutritious two course meal. Once they have been served their meal, guests can sit down and relax with a mug of tea or coffee to chat to friends, read a newspaper or book from our library, and watch television. Aside from the meal and opportunity to relax, guests have access to a range of other essential services, including showers, laundry facilities, and a clothing store.
Perhaps most importantly, guests also have the opportunity to meet with an Advice Worker who can provide advice and practical support to help
them to move towards leading a more stable life away from the streets.
Workshops for Everyone
2009 saw the beginning of a Framing Workshop. Thanks to a grant from Help the Homeless, they were able to purchase the equipment necessary to the whorshop started. Many participating guests are now extremely proficient framers. Union Chapel are looking for ways of making the workshop financially sustainable, turning it into a social enterprise, and running community classes to enable our framers to pass on their skills.
We are currently looking to expand our workshops that we offer during the week. If you able to donate your time to help develop a course and share your expertise or interests, you can find contact details here.
Cafe
In addition to helping to run the Sunday Drop-In and the Cold Weather Shelter, many volunteers are also involved in running the Margins Project’s Union Cafe. The Cafe was opened in 2008 with the aim of providing further training opportunities for our volunteers and to raise money for the Margins Project. Our cooks and volunteers prepare and serve food at evening Union Chapel concerts and events and also learn about food hygiene with the opportunity to attend training and to gain a Food Hygiene Certificate.
Restoration
The Tower was added in 1888, 18 years after the completion of the Chapel and the Sunday School on Compton Avenue. The original 1875 design was for a typical Gothic revival 'Somerset Parish Church' style four square tower. James Cubitt redesigned it during the 1880's and made it more fashionable, civic and ‘English’ style.
The tower is in immediate need of repair. You can support the restorations with regular donations via standing order. Also you can also become a friend of Union Chapel. The Friends of Union Chapel offer members a range of fun activities through which they can support the restoration work.
Concerts, Comedy & More!
Tom Jones, Fairport Convention and Elton John have all had gigs at th Union Chapel.
Fancy some free lunchtime concerts? Daylight Music is a dazzling idea, presented by the Union Chapel and produced by Arctic Circle, to open up our gothic venue to a shiny new daytime crowd and provide a rather exciting platform for artists.
It's also comedy's spiritual home... Live At The Chapel has been running since June 2007. Produced and promoted by The Invisible Dot, it is one of the biggest, most dramatic comedy clubs in the country.
This is not all! You can check out an exciting events calendar here
Giving
At TIC we have committed ourselves to give ten pounds of every let to the Margins Project and kindly ask both the landlords and the tenants to match our donation each time they use our services.
But that is not the only way to help, nor the only project at the Union Chapel that needs support. You can find out about how you can show your support here
If you are another property related business which supports this or another great local charity we want to hear from you and discuss any potential B2B opportunities.
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