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The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
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Free The Night

Registered

Charity no. 109787 Date registered. 27/11/2024

Public benefits

What are the direct benefits flowing from your organisation's purposes? Promotion of cultural diversity and upholding the fundamental human right to participate in a cultural life, encouraging the right to participate in the arts without any apprehensions, ensuring safe venues, and proper licensing working towards a Northern Ireland where our

night-time economy thrives and the rights of every individual are protected, promoting a more inclusive, expressive and secure future for our cities and their inhabitants, elevation of NI's nightlife to global standards, with tourists and visitors getting a richer experience, Safety, inclusivity and cultural diversity ensure community participation. How can the benefits identified above be demonstrated? We will evaluate the effectiveness of our initiatives through methodical review including feedback gathered from stakeholders. Is there any harm arising from any of the purposes? The night-time economy is integral culturally, socially and economically and can involve psychoactive substances like alcohol. Despite potential risks, Free The Night believes that the benefits of a thriving night-time economy outweigh such concerns, especially when supported by harm reduction measures. Our approach towards harm reduction: Awareness and endorsing responsible consumption, Offering educational resources to inform about possible dangers, Consistently liaising with local bodies and stakeholders to update safety protocols. Who are the charity's beneficiaries? 1. Artists, Musicians and Creatives: We promote an environment for expression and growth, advocating for spaces where they can prosper. 2. Night-time Economy Workers: Workers in nightclubs, bars, venues, and associated services gain from our push for safety and progress. 3. Local Businesses: They profit from a robust night-time economy, attracting both locals and tourists. 4. Tourists: With efforts to elevate NI's nightlife to global standards, visitors get a richer experience. 5. Local Communities: Safety, inclusivity and cultural diversity ensure community participation without concerns. 6. Policy Makers: Our evidence-based insights guide effective regulations. 7. General Public: A thriving night culture elevates overall quality of life for many. Is there any private benefit flowing from any of the purposes? Is it incidental and necessary? Within Free The Night's operations private benefits arise but, they're incidental and often necessary for achieving our overarching purpose: Local Businesses: May experience increased revenue due to efforts to promote a vibrant night-time economy. This is an incidental benefit, stemming directly from our core aim of enriching night-time culture for the broader community; Artists and Musicians: By advocating for more safe spaces, artists may find more opportunities. This benefit is incidental but crucial to support cultural expression, a key part of our mission. Service Providers: Safety or educational services might get exposure, but such ties are integral for us to ensure safety and best practices in night-time environments. DJs and record label owners from NI. Any exposure gained from Free The Night is incidental and will only apply to those whose main goal is advancing NI's night-time arts scene and where industry insights align with our charity's mission, reinforcing our genuine purpose.

What your organisation does

Free The Night actively champions a vibrant, safe, and culturally rich nightlife in Northern Ireland. We have identified key areas within the creative night-time economy that need intervention and work towards eliminating barriers. Research and Evidence Building: We undertake research to understand current challenges. This includes gauging public

opinion, collating police statistics for safety enhancement, and understanding the economic value of the industry. Advocacy: We lobby the Northern Ireland Assembly, responding to government consultations, advising official bodies including government departments, and engaging with the Northern Ireland public transport providers and organisations that support tourism. Collaborations: We join forces with other industry sectors to highlight the importance of a progressive night-time economy. This not only benefits those directly involved in night-time industries but also the broader community. Education: We create awareness campaigns, addressing night-time concerns. Through resources and educational materials, we aim to reimagine creative spaces, support industries, and drive home the importance of cultural spaces and nightclubs. Reducing Creative Drain: Free The Night is dedicated to combating the 'creative drain' in Northern Ireland, where a significant number of our talented artists and creatives leave for broader opportunities; our mission is to foster a vibrant local scene that not only retains our homegrown talent but also attracts those form other countries to our shores

The charity’s classifications

  • The advancement of citizenship or community development
  • The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science

Who the charity helps

  • General public
  • General public
  • Physical disabilities

How the charity works

  • Advice/advocacy/information
  • Arts
  • Community development
  • Community development
  • Community development
  • Research/evaluation

Charitable purposes

2. OBJECTS 1. To advance art and culture in Northern Ireland for the benefit of the community insofar as is charitable according to the law of Northern Ireland as follows: Free The Night aims to enrich Northern Ireland's cultural landscape by promoting a diverse and vibrant nightlife culture that serves as a platform for artistic expression and creative engagement through: a. Supporting local artists, musicians and creatives by helping save and create platforms for performance, exhibition and collaboration. b. Organising cultural, cross-community and marginalised community events that increase access to the arts and promote cultural heritage, catering to a wide audience. c. Enhancing community wellbeing through access and promotion of art and culture, fostering a sense of belonging and shared cultural identity. d. Provide research and data that shows the unique relevance of late-night spaces for community cohesion in Northern Ireland which can also be used globally. e. Capturing, documenting and safeguarding the heritage and history of dancefloors in Northern Ireland. 2. To advance community development and citizenship insofar as is charitable according to the law of Northern Ireland as follows: In the context of Northern Ireland's unique social fabric, Free The Night endeavours to foster community cohesion and citizenship through: a. Collaborating with local authorities, police and transport bodies to ensure a safe nightlife environment, contributing to the overall safety and cohesion of the community. b. Increasing accessibility to cultural events and the arts, especially for marginalized or underrepresented groups within the community. c. Advocating for progressive changes in entertainment licensing and the night-time economy to create a more inclusive and equitable nightlife scene that reflects the best practices seen in other parts of the UK and Europe and allows new creatives and curators to develop community spaces at night. This in essence is to allow new curators of the arts fair access which has historically been in the hands of those who use these spaces for profiteering. d. Addressing the 'creative drain' by creating opportunities and environments that encourage creatives to remain and thrive within Northern Ireland. For the purpose of this clause, ‘creatives’ means those who are paid or unpaid, and create or curate art and artistic expression. This includes subcultures and those who promote subcultures.

Governing document

Constitution

Other name


  • 7 Trustees
  • 0 Employees
  • 0 Volunteers

Contact details

Public address

  • Mr Boyd Sleator, 207 Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 9SS

Trustee board

Trustee
Mr Boyd Sleator
Ms Holly Lester
Mr Gregg Reid
Mr Andrew Moore
Ms Grace Peacock
Mr Emmett Dougan
Mr Ciaran Bittles

List of regions

  • In Northern Ireland