From under a tree to a movement – An incredible journey of hope, unity and legacy in the aftermath of Grenfell Tower Fire.

Just hours after the Grenfell Tower fire, local children and young people gathered under a tree in North Kensington seeking safety, connection and hope. What began as a simple grassroots response to one of the UK’s most devastating peacetime tragedies has grown into Kids On The Green (KOTG), a nationally recognised youth organisation supporting hundreds of children and young people through Music, media, circus, mentoring and wellbeing programmes.

For nearly a decade, KOTG has provided a safe and inspiring space where young people can discover their talents, build confidence, gain  accredited arts qualifications and access opportunities that may otherwise have remained out of reach. From podcasting and radio production to music, performance, visual arts and mentoring, KOTG has helped countless young people progress into employment, further education and the creative industries, enabling them to live healthy and happy lives.

Today, the organisation is recognised both locally and nationally for its impact and has recently been shortlisted in three categories at the Young Kensington and Chelsea Awards, including Children and Youth Service of the Year.

However, KOTG is now facing one of the greatest challenges in its history. After nine years in its current home, the organisation must relocate and is working urgently to secure a new base that will allow it not only to continue supporting young people, but to develop a more sustainable future.

The vision for this next chapter is ambitious. KOTG aims to create a model that combines high-quality creative arts and media training for young people with commercial creative services that generate income, helping the organisation become less dependent on ever diminishing grant funding while creating much needed work experience, training and employment opportunities for local young people within the creative industries.

Without support, there is a real risk that this remarkable community legacy could be lost. With support, KOTG can continue to grow, creating opportunities for the next generation of young people across North Kensington.

This summer, Pillar Hall are proud to partner with Kids On The Green, providing a platform for young performers to showcase their talents in Idalia and Pepperbird with live performances, while helping raise awareness and support for the organisation’s future. 

Guests are invited to add an optional £1 donation to their bill, with every contribution helping KOTG continue its mission of creating opportunity, belonging and brighter futures for children and young people.