50-year-old bandstand to close in December

A children’s bandstand that offers play sessions for kids under five years old is being forced to close this winter.

Highbury Fields Bandstand has been a part of the community for 50 years had its funding cut by Islington Council in April 2017. The council cut its funding from £19,000 to £7,000.  

“They cut us to the point where we can’t stay open,” said the assistant manager and play worker at Highbury Fields Lorraine O’Leary.  

The nonprofit organisation provides arts and crafts, outside activities and the opportunity for children to socialise. For the last 18 months, local people have been petitioning the council to give them back their funding.

“We’re pretty much going to be closed by Christmas,” O’Leary said. “We’ve approached local businesses to see if they would like to advertise inside our building, but still nothing.” For the last fifty years, Highbury Fields has been a “children’s place.”

The bandstand has become a life line for a number of local parents. Not only is it accessible to all residents in London, but it only costs £2 to use its services.

Danielle Grainger and her daughter are among the 40 to 50 children and adults who take advantage of the bandstand’s activities. “It’s our inside group that we go to. Without it, we’ll be pretty lost on a Monday morning,” she said.