Based in an iconic building with a ground-breaking history, Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) is a home for radical artistic ideas, where artists, audiences and communities can connect and be creative. It is the world’s first Relaxed Venue and operates a trailblazing Pay What You Can ticketing scheme, breaking down barriers to attendance. BAC’s Individual Award nomination is for Rafe Offer, who first came to BAC over 13 years ago, and was recently invited to join the judging panel for The Agency, BAC’s social enterprise programme that supports young people from underserved areas to create projects aimed at making a difference in their local community. Rafe’s role as a judge was to bring his extensive business expertise to benefit the Agents and their projects, but Rafe was so inspired by CUBE IT, a confidence and resilience programme devised by 18-year-old, Mikhi, that he decided to support it with a first-time donation to BAC as well as offering his time to mentor Mikhi in his professional development. This nomination shows how charities can inspire new potential supporters by offering first-hand experiences that demonstrate the impact of the work they do and the tangible ways in which donors can make a real difference.

Battersea Arts Centre & Rafe Offer