RADA takes part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2020
RADA’s annual campaign with match-funding platform The Big Give returns this year from Tuesday 1 to Tuesday 8 December, raising funds for our access and participation projects. All donations, of any size, made during this week will be doubled thanks to The Big Give platform, which brings together individuals, charities and philanthropists.
RADA’s access and participation projects create pathways to our higher education courses for young people, regardless of their economic circumstances, cultural heritage, disability or social class. This important work nurtures and provides opportunities for young people from underrepresented groups.
Our Big Give Christmas Challenge in 2019 exceeded our target and raised £52,976 towards our participation programmes. This meant that our projects could reach more young people than ever, not just in London but right across the UK. We did this through activities in over 40 workshops, productions and programmes.
In 2020 we hope to build on this success to raise £61,208. Due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on opportunities for young people, particularly within the arts and cultural sector, your support is needed now more than ever.
RADA's access and participation team have adapted their work to the challenges of COVID-19 and continued to support young people online since lockdown began in March. This was an opportunity to build community and continue creative practice, as well as to offer support and create hope for young people in a period of isolation.
Our projects need to continue to adapt, so we can carry on providing opportunities and spaces for young people to invest in themselves and their own creativity.
An example of our continuing work this year was The Next Stage with Platform Youth Hub, a week of free in-person workshops with a brilliant group of young people aged 16-20. The workshops were led by RADA graduates and looked at actor training, including acting skills sessions, advice on applications, and self-taping. Axa Hynes, Director of Access and Participation, described it as a week filled with "joy, so much hope, and so much passion". You can read more about all of our access and participation projects here.
If you're interested in supporting us during this year's Big Give Christmas Challenge, please sign up to register your interest here. We will email you when donations go live on 1 December with details of how you can support RADA’s access and participation projects this year.
Thank you for helping us to create opportunities to inspire the next generation of theatre makers!
Thank you to RADA’s match-funding champion, The Childhood Trust.
