Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club launches ‘fighting fund’ to raise £12,000

The Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club has launched a new “fighting fund” which aims to raise £12,000 in just six weeks to secure the venue’s future.

The Grade II-listed building is a staple of LGBTQ+ nightlife in the capital and the crowdfunder aims to raise money in the hope that “the borough can buy the building and offer it back to the community, keeping it open”.

The fund is being spearheaded by the Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (FoBGWMC) and almost £4,000 has been raised so far. All money raised will be used for a survey and valuation of the building, while if the target is hit before deadline an extended target of £18,000 will be used to develop a full business plan.

Equity’s Variety Organiser, Nick Keegan, said: “A community purchase on this scale will be no small task. We are trying to be absolutely realistic about this. We believe a partnership between the community of BGWMC and Tower Hamlets Council does have the ability to achieve this. We believe it is essential  to save this unique cultural facility and give it a chance to continue serving the local community of Tower Hamlets, the LGBTQ+ community, and the wider cultural tapestry of London for future generations. 

“We are determined to build that case, and make sure that the cultural and societal value of BGWMC is clear for all to see.

“BGWMC is a crucial and irreplaceable fixture of London’s cultural heritage. It has been a catalyst for the development of new artists and cultural workers in the city, a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, and it is a building with more than 100 years of history as a community owned space. It is vital that we protect BGWMC for future generations and allow its legacy to live on.”

You can donate here.