Lowry’s 15th annual festive appeal raises £50,600 to support its creative programmes for young people in Salford

£50,600 has been raised by Lowry’s Festive Appeal to fund the art centres creative participation programmes for young people from across Salford and Greater Manchester.

Lowry is a registered charity with a mission to use creativity and the arts to change lives. Its annual Festive Appeal raises vital funds to help support its creative programmes, and the young people who access them, many of whom face significant challenges; whether they’re out of school, in care, at risk of homelessness, caring for a family member, or growing up in poverty.

These donations enable Lowry to create safe, nurturing and inspiring spaces where the young people can take part in a wide range of activities, from visual arts sessions that support wellbeing and self‑expression to performance and drama opportunities that help them build confidence, develop their voices, and form friendships. Lowry also remove practical barriers to participation, providing things like transport, food, and other essentials so that every young person can take part fully and comfortably.

Each year, over 22,000 people take part in Lowry’s creative programmes, here’s what some of the young people have told us about the difference these programmes have made in their lives:

“Before I started coming to Lowry…I didn’t want to get out of the house…now, I enjoy being out and about and I want to do things. Coming to Lowry reminds me of what I can do…I’m much more confident and less judgemental of myself…I don’t doubt myself as much…my self-esteem has changed so much.”

“By coming to Lowry, I feel like my confidence slowly boosts during each lesson. I also think I’ve become a little bit more sociable, everyone accepts you for who you are.”

“Before I came to Lowry, I was so quiet, I wouldn’t talk to people. My confidence has grown so much that now I can talk to anybody. I always needed someone to support me, but now I can stand on my own two feet and be my own person.”

Audiences from Salford, Greater Manchester and beyond to Lowry’s festive shows including The Red Shoes, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Unfortunate, and The Enormous Crocodile have generously donated in their thousands via bucket collections – with every penny counting.  Donations also came in digitally and through the purchase of special festive drinks in the Lowry Bar and Kitchen.

At the heart of it all were Lowry’s VIPs, a dedicated team of group volunteers, who took on the vital role of leading bucket collections after every performance. Their enthusiasm, commitment, and warmth made a real difference to the success of the campaign. One volunteer, Laurence Josephson, who hosts a popular local quiz, went above and beyond by generously donating his quiz fee to the appeal.

Lowry also extends a heartfelt thank-you to the participants of Uswim’s annual New Years Day charity swim who generously donated £1,000 to this year’s appeal.

Lowry’s Director of Learning & Engagement, Jenny Riding says: “We’re so grateful to everyone who donated to this year’s Lowry Festive Appeal.  As a charity we couldn’t deliver the work we do in our communities without their generosity and support.

“A special thanks to the cast and crew from The Red Shoes, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Unfortunate, and The Enormous Crocodile who have each shared the vital work we do with audiences, and our wonderful volunteers who have collected donations, after every single one of our festive performances – thank you!”

Learn more about our creative participation programmes here.