University of Westminster’s arts venue the Soho Poly fundraises £6,000 from Portman Foundation

Soho Poly’s Sustainable Communities Programme builds on streams of work successfully trialled during the first year of operation of the fully restored licensed Soho Poly arts venue. The team have developed three free community arts clubs: the Craft and Creative Writing Club, Badge Making Café and Polyphonic Music Club. Beta versions of these clubs ran from September 2023 to March 2024 aimed particularly at older participants, members of the LGBTQ+ community and more widely across Westminster. They worked with the older people’s charities Open Age and the Fitzrovia Centre, as well as LGBTQ+ charity Badge Cafe to bring these events to life. Tea and biscuits were always provided and first-time attendees quickly became regulars, commenting on how joyful, welcoming and inclusive the environment was.

Beneficiaries of Polyphonic Music and Badge Making Clubs include local office workers, shift workers, people from low-income backgrounds whose access to the arts is usually atypical, and students during lunchtime performances and events.
Members of older people’s charities Open Age and the Fitzrovia Centre benefit from Craft and Creative Writing Clubs designed to combat isolation and promote creativity and wellbeing.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community have the chance to take part in Badge Making Cafes hosted by Dr Ben Walters but the café is also open to everybody to enjoy. 

The Portman Foundation was formed over twenty years ago with the purpose of supporting local charities and good causes that are active on and around The Portman Estate, which covers 110 acres of Marylebone in London.

Following a successful four-year fundraising campaign, the Soho Poly reopened its doors to the public in 2023, after receiving a new premises licence from Westminster City Council.

Jules Attanayake, Development Officer within the Fundraising and Development Team, said: “This funding will go a long way in securing our programme of activities with community partners to benefit local residents and people in need of socialisation and access to everyday arts. We’re proud of the programme of activities we have built up over the last year, thanks to the dedication of artistic directors Matt Morrison and Guy Osborn. We are indebted and very grateful to the Portman Foundation which is a much valued partner of the University, and look forward to ongoing partnership working in the future.” 

Katie Balderson, Corporate Director and Estate Secretary at The Portman Estate, said: “We are delighted to continue our support for the Soho Poly Sustainable Communities project through The Portman Foundation. The project plays such an important role in improving access to the arts in the local community.“

This programme directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.  

Watch the highlights from the recent Soho Poly Summer Festival. 

To find out how you can support the Soho Poly visit the Soho Poly donate page or email the Development Team.