MAGIC ME ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16
We are Magic Me. We bring together older and younger people through the arts, building stronger, friendlier communities.
In a group like this, we learn from them, they learn from us. Devika, Older Participant
DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2015-16 saw Magic Me’s largest programme ever with new partnerships and challenging pilot projects joining our regular activities, such as the popular Cocktails in Care Homes. Building on our great relationships with care home communities we brought leading performing artists Punchdrunk Enrichment and Lois Weaver to create wonderful work with residents and staff; whilst our new Action on Loneliness project is linking 60 socially isolated residents with adult volunteers. Our home borough of Tower Hamlets has the highest rates of child and pensioner poverty in England, and the gap between rich and poor is growing. This year we have worked in 5 London boroughs and our research
and expertise has been able to impact communities beyond London and the UK. All our projects provide intergenerational groups with a space, an opportunity and a way to meet and really listen to one another’s experiences. Rooms with a View and Frames of Brick Lane brought the stories of our local area to life in moving, site-specific performances, a touring exhibition and beautiful artwork. The message of both projects was a powerful and timely one – that no place can be described in one single story and that every individual holds part of the picture. Susan Langford, Director
CHAIR’S REPORT As I write this introduction, I have never been more convinced of the necessity of a charity like Magic Me. We are seeing ever increasing recognition of the damaging effects of loneliness, not just for the older members of our society, but throughout the generations. Magic Me’s work not only does something about loneliness, it goes further – building ties within communities, and understanding between cultures and generations.
and attracting large audiences to site specific artworks. And as the charity’s remit has grown, so too has its board. We have welcomed several new members this year, strengthening our expertise and equipping us for further exciting times ahead. We look forward to seeing the results of our strategic review being put in to action by our dedicated team of staff, ensuring that Magic Me is there to improve the lives of all younger and older generations locally, in London and beyond for years to come.
I am proud that just as the need for organisations like ours has grown, we have answered this with our largest Alison Harvie, Chair of Trustees programme of work to date, the largest and most ambitious including taking immersive theatre into care homes
THIS YEAR WE WORKED WITH
576
569 333
participants
30
artists
volunteers
6
6
cultural institutions
12
audience members saw a performance
housing providers
saw our exhibition
18
funders
community centres
3
care homes
12,000+
4
schools
7
3
business universities supporters
SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS Magic Me works with primary schools, older people’s community groups, secondary schools, day centres, sixth form colleges, care homes and many individuals bringing together younger and older people from the local community. Each project is designed by our artists to provide a space for people from all ages, backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities to meet, get to know each other and see the world from each other’s viewpoint. Older people are often keen to develop their untapped talents and learn new skills, and their enthusiasm encourages young people to do the same. Less confident students, including those with English as a second language, flourish with the one-to-one attention from older adults and surprise I’m learning every themselves with what day. It’s rekindling my they can achieve.
old energy.
Winnie, Older Participant
FRAMES OF BRICK LANE Local older people and Year 3 pupils from Christ Church Primary School created large scale paintings celebrating their local area. Both old and young shared their experiences of living in and around Brick Lane, finding connections across the generations. We also ran a complementary research project canvassing the Bangladeshi community on future intergenerational activities that they would like to see. The paintings went on show at the offices of law firm Allen & Overy before being permanently installed in the school’s community hall. Funded by Allen & Overy
I’ve been teaching for 27 years and this, without a doubt, is the best art project I’ve ever done. Julian Morant, Head teacher, Christchurch Primary School
ROOMS WITH A VIEW Each performance included a community conversation when the audience shared their stories of “feeling at home� in the local area.
training for artists and others in the creative sector. A research report written by Dr Caoimhe McAvinchey, Senior Lecturer in Drama, Theatre and Performance, Queen Mary, Some stories were also University of London was recorded as audio histories Older women and students published in April 2016 and which are now in the permanent from Mulberry School for Girls can be downloaded from our collection of the Tower Hamlets worked together to collect website. Local History Library and stories from over 100 local To listen to the audio histories people. Describing experiences Archives and can be listened to on the Magic Me website. A and download the research of seeking work, fleeing touring exhibition featuring the report, visit persecution or close family ties, all the stories reflected the audio histories and images from www.magicme.co.uk/rooms interconnectedness of residents the project was seen by over Supported using public funding 12,000 people. of all ages. These stories by the National Lottery through became Speak as You Find, an Research into intergenerational Arts Council England, the immersive theatre production arts practice ran alongside the Heritage Lottery Fund and performed by local older and project and we held continuing London Borough of Tower younger people in October 2015. professional development Hamlets No single story can describe the history of the East End and its people. Our year-long project Rooms with a View aimed to share a range of these stories and points of view.
This project was a process of continuing education which was so good for my brain.
Rooms has shown me a new side of Tower Hamlets I didn’t know about!
Henrietta, Older Participant
Shuhana, Younger Participant
I LIVE IN IT
.
This project has reawakened my creativity. Annie, Older Participant In collaboration with Associate Artist Sue Mayo’s research and performance project The Gratitude Enquiry, a group of older women and students from Mulberry School for Girls created a piece of dance for International Women’s Day
sharing stories about their bodies, their moves, all the things that these bodies can and can’t do. Choreographed for a wide range of mobilities, the group were able share a story that they would never have spoken in words.
Funded by London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Mulberry School for Girls and the Lucas Tooth Trust
REGULAR GROUPS Our regular groups provide informal opportunities for participants old and young from previous projects to stay in touch and socialise. Film Club meets once a month at Rich Mix to watch a film and have a cuppa together, whilst Go & See offers trips out. This year’s outings included a tour of the Royal Albert Hall, a boat trip through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and afternoon tea at the Sky Garden. Thanks to corporate support we have been able to subsidise these trips and provide transport for participants. Special thanks to volunteer managers, Aimee Marlowe and Ida Casilli. Supported by Liberty Global Group and Lloyds Market Charity Awards.
An afternoon well spent.. I appreciated the effort of the leaders in making sure I was included in all the activities, and that I travelled safely home. Quentin, Older Participant
WORK IN CARE HOMES A care home and a school might stand side by side on a street, but it is rare for these two communities of people to meet. This is where Magic Me comes in. We have always worked with care homes since we began. This year our work has grown to include Action on Loneliness – a creative friendship scheme which boosts the wellbeing of both residents and volunteers, residencies with some of the UK’s leading performing arts companies, and the continued growth of Cocktails in Care Homes.
I am completely over-the-moon with the progress I can see with Jim. The fact that before he would never come out of his room and his notes stated ‘bed ridden’… I just cannot believe this is the same man.” Andy, Volunteer
Cocktails in Care Homes is the best hour of my month. Brilliant. Gemma, volunteer
COCKTAILS IN CARE HOMES Evenings in care homes can be lonely and due to ill health and frailty most residents can’t pop down the pub or go out with friends. So in 2010, to meet this need, we set up Cocktails in Care Homes, putting on fabulous parties in care homes.
Every party is different, but some things are consistent – laughter, great people, caring and celebrating life. It’s a richly rewarding experience and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Trish Birkin, Volunteer Party Manager
Now thanks to our growing team of volunteers we are running monthly cocktail parties in 9 homes across London. A party is not just a social occasion for residents, for relatives a party is a low pressure way to visit a loved one, especially those with dementia. For staff our parties are an opportunity to get to know residents more informally. Parties lift the mood in a home and staff tell us there is a noticeable positive impact on residents’ mood and well-being for days afterwards. Throughout this year we have run training for volunteers in
It was lovely this evening! Thank you so much. It’s just nice to have someone new to chat to. And in such an enjoyable atmosphere! Jean, Care Home Resident
communication skills and understanding dementia, as well as bespoke induction sessions for corporate groups. Building on our party programme British Land and Clifford Chance LLP also hosted afternoon tea parties in the City attended by residents. Cocktails is currently running in 5 London boroughs, but we are always keen to hear from care home providers and local authorities interested in bringing the project to their area.
We have developed a project website to recruit and manage volunteers, visit cocktails.magicme.co.uk Funded by The Aurum Foundation, The ExPat Foundation, The Henry Smith Charity, People’s Postcode Lottery, Santander Foundation
In 2015/16 we ran 91 parties attended by 370 older people, supported by over 250 volunteers.
...Such an innovative and flexible programme‌by volunteering our employees learn new skills and feel fulfilled by making a real difference. Meriel Crawford, Schroders
ARTISTS RESIDENCIES IN CARE HOMES Our two year Artists Residencies in Care Homes programme aims to push the boundaries of what arts provision in cares homes can and should be, by challenging and supporting some of the UK’s leading performing arts practitioners to develop their work for a care home audience including those with dementia. In Spring 2016 the first two residencies were hosted by Anchor care homes. Punchdrunk Enrichment transformed a lounge in Greenhive Care Home into a beautiful set of a village green, complete with grass, a pub and a post box. Residents gathered for weekly Village Committee meetings that were part-soap opera, part-game, partworkshop. The public were invited to follow happenings in the village via Twitter.
Our ambition has been to give the residents including those living with dementia an empowering and magical experience‌ Their energy, humour and willingness to come on the journey with us has been humbling. Peter Higgin, Punchdrunk Enrichment
Tammy Whynot, Lois Weaver’s country and western singer alter-ego, ran a range of activities in Rose Court encouraging auto-biographical story-telling included filling photograph albums with imagined memories, creating fantasy personas, and sharing anecdotes about homes, heroes and hidden treasures. A report on this first phase of the Artists Residencies programme was launched at an event for arts practitioners in June 2016.
The programme continues in Autumn 2016 with residencies from alt-cabaret collective Duckie and circus and aerialist company Upswing. Download the Phase One Learning Report from magicme.co.uk/resources/ downloads Supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Wakefield and Tetley Trust
We’ve been thinkin’ about the hidden potential in all of us, and I want to see what happens when we dig down, locate it and just let it go! TammyWhyNot AKA Lois Weaver
ACTION ON LONELINESS This pilot project seeks to combat loneliness in six care homes in Tower Hamlets by matching up residents and local volunteers with similar interests.
I’m not a friendly man, I was once, a long time ago, but I’m friendly with Tim (volunteer), I think I enjoy meeting with him more than anyone. I think he is a great chap. Care Home Resident
We support volunteers with training and by helping them to find creative ways to engage their partner, especially those with dementia. For example volunteers have helped musical residents create playlists of their favourite songs, whilst others have used Google maps to enable residents to “visit” their old neighbourhoods. Our Project Assistant Syeda Begum matches up and supports Bengali speaking partnerships. My Home Life at City University helped develop a framework to measure the impact of the project on the wellbeing of both residents and volunteers. Commissioned by London Borough of Tower Hamlets Public Health Team
This project is such a good way to connect people from different generations. It’s fascinating hearing stories about my partner’s life and family. Thank you for introducing us. AoL volunteer
SHARING OUR EXPERTISE Magic Me is a learning organisation and a leader in the field of intergenerational arts. Over 27 years we have honed our practice through experimental projects, exciting partnerships, and research. Continuing Professional Development days with our artists and staff enable us to share what is working on current projects and learn together. Ongoing partnerships with universities keep us in touch with current developments in the arts, care and education sectors, whilst our research projects share our learning with a wider audience.
This year we partnered: City University The My Home Life team are supporting us with the evaluation of Action on Loneliness. Goldsmiths, University of London Our Associate Artist Sue Mayo ran a training event for artists focused on practical skills and techniques used in the Rooms project. Queen Mary, University of London Dr Caoimhe McAvinchey published her research report on our Rooms with A View project with a launch event in April 2016.
Really helpful and inspiring - thank you! Attendee, Sharing the Learning event
In June 2016 we published an interim report on the learning from phase one of our Artists Residencies in Care Homes programme. A final report is due in March 2017.
Interested in our training or consultancy service?
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
IES TISTS RESIDENC MAGIC ME’S AR OGRAMME PR IN CARE HOMES 2016 2015 – March
Disrupting and Deve loping Narratives of Community through Intergene rational Arts Practice
e, April m Phase On Me Learning fro ector, Magic rd MBE, Dir Susan Langfo
Dr Caoimhe McAv inchey, Queen Mary Univ ersity of London
Our expertise is in demand. Our Sharing the Learning events attract diverse audiences of artists, care
Want to explore creating a partnership with us? Contact susanlangford@ magicme.co.uk or call 020 3222 6064.
Both reports are available to download at www.magicme. co.uk/resources
Planning a conference? We can provide expertise, speakers and training,
professionals and activists, and this year our Director Susan Langford has consulted on new intergenerational arts initiatives for local councils, arts organisations, care home providers and arts funders.
WE REMEMBER Magic Me participants who passed away in 2015 and 2016 Maud Beckwith
John Hutchings
George Bethel
Joan Joanson
Wasyl Borekjy
Alan Jones
Marilyn Bryan
Joyce Kent
Ronald Chambers
Derek Kersey
Grace Chinnick
Nelly Morell
Deirdre Cuthbertson
Eva Redmond
Rita Downs
Norman Samuel
Lillian Dunsford
Richard Skilleter
James Fleming
Gerard Smith
Joan Haegreen
Robert Spicer
Kitty Haydon
Lady Frances Stacey
Helen Hoey
Annie Tulley
Lilian Holdings
Mary Winter
OUR TEAM We couldn’t do all this without our brilliant community of people. Thank you to everyone who has been part of Magic Me’s work this year. Board of Trustees Alison Harvie Chair Cynthia Edwards Wilson Secretary Sanjay Vyas Treasurer James Barrett Paul Shaw until June 2015 From October 2015 Holly Aston Lynne Hale Denise Leander Aimee O’Malley
Staff Susan Langford Director Charlotte O’Dair Programme Director until Aug 2015
Holly Stratton Programme Director (maternity cover) until Dec 2015 Stella Odunlami Projects Manager from Nov 2015 Ellie Watmough Project Manager – Care Homes Adam Butler Volunteer Manager Clea House, Volunteer and Development Manager until Feb 2016 Sarah Dean General Manager Nicole Artingstall Programme Assistant until Jan 2015 Katherine Eves Programme AssistantSchools and Community
Rosie Goldsmith Programme Assistant Care Homes
Associates Louise Alexander Accountant Sue Mayo Associate Artist Dr Caoimhe McAvinchey Researcher, Queen Mary University of London Anna Scrine Development Consultant
Freelance Artists Pool Larry Achiampong Polly Beestone Ali Campbell Sara Clifford
Ben Connors Kathryn Gilfoy Liane Harris Emma Higham Bhavesh Hindocha Lehni Lamide Davies Kate Lovell Anita McKenzie Douglas Nicolson Zoe Palmer Lesley Pinder Ellie Rees Keiran Sheehan Verity Standen Surya Turner Julian West Amanda Westbury
THANKS TO: Professional Services Chiara Ceolin Photographer Dementia Care Matters Consultants DR-ink Design Richard Hopper Auditor Hands Up Web developers Helen Jermyn Photographer Chloe White Film Maker Penelope IT support The Young Foundation and all our good neighbours in 17 & 18 Victoria Park Square
Professional Volunteers Stephen Davies Accountancy 34SP.com Web hosting
Rosanna Cooper Enews template design Williams Murray Hamm Brand design
Admin and Office Volunteers Leah Fagelson Helen Phillips Maariyah Syeda
Placement Students James Shields Central School of Speech and Drama
Annual Report Photography credits Chiara Ceolin Paul Cochrane Steve Dobbie Christa Holka Helen Jermyn
Chuck Lowry Claire Nolan
Action on Loneliness Local volunteers, residents and staff from Pat Shaw House, Peter Shore Court, Sonali Gardens, Westport Care Centre, Hawthorn Green Residential and Nursing Home and Silk Court Care Home My Home Life Project Consultants Marine Begault Evaluation Coordinator Syeda Begum Bilingual Project Assistant
Artists Residences in Care Homes Residents and staff from Rose Court and Greenhive Care Homes.
Lois Weaver, Hannah Maxwell and the wider Tammy Whynot team The team from Punchdrunk Enrichment Erin Morris Communications Volunteer Mellissa Bliss Observing Phd student, Queen Mary University of London Victoria Hogg Project volunteer
Cocktails in Care Homes Residents and staff from George Mason Lodge, Greenhive Care Home, Hawthorn Green Residential and Nursing Home, Mildmay Extra Care Services No.s 73 & 20-26, Pat Shaw House, Rose Court Care Home,
Silk Court Care Home and Westport Care Centre. All our wonderful volunteers including our Volunteer Party Managers: Chris Ali, Victoria Armitage, Lindsay Brown, Trish Birkin, Sophie FanningTichborne, Eimear Hurley, Anna Koziol, Helen Lidis, Chloe LloydHorton, Helen O’Kelly, Zosia Poulter, Charlie Smoothy, Dyra Trikka, Rhiannon Watson and Sarah Watson. Thanks to our corporate partners – Bank of England, Clifford Chance LLP, Schroders and Standard Chartered.
Frames of Brick Lane Pupils and staff from Christchurch Primary School, Brick Lane
Local older people Ben Connors Illustrator & Artist Surya Turner Storyteller & Theatre Practitioner Melanie Herring Project Volunteer Volunteers from Allen and Overy
Chuck Lowry Film Maker Jamie McCarthy Composer Ellie Sikorski Choreographer Pooja Stipura Project Volunteer Tinka Werner Project Volunteer
Go & See and Film Club
Rooms with a View
Magic Me participants Thanks to Rich Mix for hosting Film Club. Ida Casilli Volunteer Film Club Manager Aimee Marlow Volunteer Go & See Manager
I live in it Students from Mulberry School for Girls and local older women Sue Mayo Theatre maker and collaborative artist Clio Alphas Costume
Local older people Students from Mulberry School for Girls Front of house and backstage volunteers Bishopsgate Institute Bromley by Bow Centre The Centre Geffrye Museum Sutton House Queen Mary University of London Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives
Sue Mayo Theatre maker and collaborative artist Raj Bhari Consulting artist from Talk for Change Tas Emiabata Theatre Practitioner Catherine Lambert Marketing Helen Lolljee Front of House Manager Amanda Mascarenhas Design and Costume Dan Scott Sound Design Lucy Wood Production Manager Marine Begault Project Assistant James Shields Student placement, Central School of Speech and Drama
FINANCIAL SUMMARY For the year ending March 2016. This summary is taken from Magic Me’s full, independently audited accounts. If you would like a copy, please contact the Magic Me office.
Income Individual donors: £22,100 Corporates: £21,118
Partners: £2,987 Earned income: £2,975
Governance: £8,929 Rent and office: £25,811 Project costs e.g. materials, venue hire: £25,373
Tower Hamlets: £39,808 National Lottery: £32,800
Expenditure
Trusts and Foundations: £255,997
Administration: £6,412 Fundraising: £2,100
Staff: £182,348 Artists and freelancers: £83,504
Unrestricted funds Designated funds
Restricted funds
Total 2016
Total 2015
3,064
41,535
14,428
Income Donations and legacies Activities for generating funds Investment income
Income from charitable activities Other income
38,471
-
15
-
-
15
336
616
-
-
616
528
39,102
-
3,064
42,166
15,292
39,801
-
294,538
334,339
244,541
1,280
-
-
1,280
1,868
80,183
-
297,602
377,785
261,701
Costs of generating grants and donations
16,003
-
2,100
18,103
21,842
Net income
64,180
-
295,502
359,682
239,859
45,702
-
236,203
281,905
210,425
536
-
25,004
25,540
9,732
Total incoming resources
Expenditure
Charitable activities Intergenerational activities Training & development activities
46,238
-
261,207
307,445
220,157
Governance costs
8,929
-
-
8,929
7,686
Total expenditure
71,170
-
263,307
334,477
249,685
(987)
10,000
34,295
43,308
12,016
Total charitable expenditure
Surplus for the year Fund balances at 1 April 2015
15,855
20,734
69,058
105,647
93,632
Fund balances at 31 March 2016
14,868
30,734
103,353
148,955
105,648
SUPPORT US Magic Me is funded entirely by donations and grants. We work hard to make sure every penny goes a far as possible, so your gift will make a big difference.
£10
Hail a cab! Help a frail older person travel to a project workshop.
£25
Trains a volunteer for Cocktails in Care Homes.
Please consider making a regular donation, which allow us to plan ahead and saves on admin costs, making your money go even further.
£50
will enable a younger and an older person to take part in a sound recording workshop.
£100 keeps a care home bar stocked for Cocktails in Care Homes for 4 months.
To give by credit or debit card, visit www.magicme.co.uk and click on Donate Now. Or send cheques payable to Magic Me to 18 Victoria Park Square, London, E2 9PF.
Thank you to everyone made a donation in 2015/16.
FUNDRAISE FOR US All kinds of people have raised money for us in all kinds of ways this year including: Staff from visual artists organisation DACS held a bake sale and raised £35 in their lunch hour.
Cocktails in Care Homes volunteer Sam Ferguson ran the New York Marathon in November in unseasonably warm weather and raised £1000.
Fat Face chose us as their Alternative Black Friday charity raising money in their Stratford store which was matched by their head office, a grand total of £1100.
Our treasurer Sanjay Vyas got on his bike cycling 100 miles in a weekend raising £17.50 a mile.
Whether you decide to run a marathon or hold a bake sale, we’d love to support your fundraising, contact sarahdean@magicme.co.uk for details.
Thank you to everyone who has fundraised for us this year.
Thank you to all our funders, donors, business supporters and project partners.
Funders & Donors
Lucas Tooth Trust
Schroders
Aldgate & All Hallows Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Standard Chartered
Arts Council England Aurum Charitable Trust Esmée Fairbairn Foundation The ExPat Foundation The Haberdashers’ Company The Henry Smith Charity Heritage Lottery Fund Lloyds Bank Foundation Lloyds Markets Charity Awards London Borough of Tower Hamlets
People’s Postcode Trust Santander Foundation Tudor Trust Wakefield & Tetley Trust Business Supporters Allen & Overy Bank of England British Land Credit Suisse Clifford Chance Foundation Liberty Global Group
Project partners Anchor Mulberry School for Girls Sue Mayo Projects And thank you to everyone who gave a one-off or regular donation, or fundraised for us.
18 Victoria Park Square London E2 9PF Tel: 020 3222 6064 info@magicme.co.uk www.magicme.co.uk
Registered Charity No. 328331 Thanks to Allen & Overy LLP for printing this report