Lowry festive appeal raises over £50,000 to support creative work with Salford’s young people

Monday, 26 January 2026 07:46

By David Murphy

Thousands of people across Salford and Greater Manchester have contributed to a fundraising appeal that has generated more than £50,000 for The Lowry’s work with disadvantaged young people.

The Salford arts centre confirmed it raised £50,600 through its 15th annual Festive Appeal. The funds will help deliver its creative participation programmes, which offer safe and inclusive spaces for young people to engage in the arts.

Many participants supported by Lowry’s work face complex challenges, such as being in care, growing up in poverty, or acting as carers themselves. The programmes aim to remove barriers to participation by offering food, transport and other essentials, while helping young people build confidence, express themselves, and develop social connections.

The funds were collected through a combination of digital donations, contributions from festive drink sales, and bucket collections after performances of The Red Shoes, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Unfortunate, and The Enormous Crocodile.

A team of volunteer fundraisers, known as Lowry VIPs, played a central role. Among them was local quiz host Laurence Josephson, who donated his quiz fee to the appeal.

The annual New Year’s Day swim organised by Uswim also contributed, raising £1,000.

Jenny Riding, Director of Learning & Engagement at The Lowry, thanked everyone who contributed. “As a charity, we couldn't deliver the work we do without their generosity and support,” she said.

“Young people are at the heart of our mission. These programmes transform lives, and every donation helps make that happen.”

Each year, more than 22,000 people take part in The Lowry’s creative work. Testimonials from participants shared by the organisation highlighted the impact of the programme on mental wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem.

One young person said: “I didn’t want to get out of the house... now I want to do things. Coming to Lowry reminds me what I can do. My self-esteem has changed so much.”

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