Proms Impact on Our Community
Our Impact
Over the past 29 years, Proms at St Jude’s has become the largest cultural festival in Hampstead Garden Suburb, if not North London. It is accessible to local and diverse communities and provides world class entertainment. Due to Covid 19 it was not possible to put on a LIVE festival in 2020, but we were able to run an event called “Proms at Home” which was free to attend and accessible online. In 2021 Proms at St Jude's was on the the first festivals to offer live events again. Seats were socially distanced to ensure the wellbeing of our audience, artists and volunteers. LitFest events were also live streamed.
Our Audience
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We have over 5,500 visitors annually to the Festival. 28% are first-time bookers.
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Geographically, the majority of our audience come from North London [NW11, NW2, NW3, NW4, N2, N6, N10 and N12]but they also come from further afield.
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Usually, over 1000 local residents attend free lunchtime concerts including the elderly and disabled.
Our Concerts
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Nine days of world class musical concerts from classical and jazz to more popular performers appealing to a wide audience.
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Recent performers include Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Nevill Holt Opera, Aurora Orchestra, Choir of King’s College Cambridge, Milos, Julian Bliss Septet and Liza Pulman
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In 2020, during lockdown, we streamed five concerts, as part of Proms at Home,
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watched by nearly 6000 people.
LitFest
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A successful literary festival now in its 10th year.
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Two days and 8 events with favourite authors discussing their latest publications.
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750 people annually attend LitFest talks.
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40% are first-time bookers.
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Recent authors include Bart Van Es, Alan Rusbridger, Robert Peston, Simon Jenkins
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and Nicholas Hytner.
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We streamed three talks, as part of Proms at Home in 2020, watched by over 550 people.
Heritage Walks
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Over 150 participants annually in local Heritage Walks.
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Over ten walks about art, architecture, history, nature, wildlife and famous people in and around North London.
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Over 750 people watched an armchair walk or listened to a podcast about the 1911census in Hampstead Garden Suburb as part of Proms at Home.
Work Experience
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Opportunities provided for local students to work at Proms.
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About fifteen students, aged 16-18, work each year in a variety of roles from operating cameras, selling programmes to front of house.
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Usually, over eight second year students from Middlesex University on a TV Production course, produce and direct the cameras for the concerts.
Volunteers
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Proms Board and organisational committees staffed by 40 volunteers.
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Over 200 people annually volunteer to work at Proms in a variety of roles from stewarding to hospitality.
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Local businesses support the Festival by providing supplies and catering.
Committed To Education
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More than 3,000 local students attended free concerts over the last 9 years.
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During Proms at Home, we provided free educational online materials to schools and free concerts for families with over 1,100 people participating.
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Students from 11 primary and secondary schools participate in a “Schools Prom” as well as music workshops.
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A Teeny Prom for pre-school age children accompanied by their carers and/or educators – over 300 children have attended since 2017.
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Outreach to children and young people in Barnet and the East End.
Nuturing Young Talent
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We give concert performance opportunities to young and rising musicians.
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A Fanfare composition competition for older pupils which aims to nurture young musical talent. The winner showcases their fanfare at the Proms Festival.
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Support Youth Programmes at Toynbee Hall helping young people to build better lives through improving their confidence and skills
Charitable Contributions
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We have raised over £1 million for charity since Proms was founded in 1993.
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Over £750k donated to Toynbee Hall in the East End in support of youth programmes.
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Over £250 donated to North London Hospice.
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We are able to maximise our donations to these charities as we are entirely run by local volunteers.