As the cost-of-living crisis continues, the Office for National Statistics has reported that 67% of people are spending less on non-essential items. Sheffield-based Tickets for Good aims to help those most severely affected by the rising cost of living to enjoy festivals, sport, music, comedy and theatre.
The cost-of-living crisis has become an increasingly pertinent issue over recent months. The last year has seen inflation increase, interest rates rise, and the cost of fuel, food and energy reach record highs. A recent survey by mental health charity, Mind, revealed that nearly eight in ten Britons had experienced a negative impact on their mental health due to the crisis. Tickets For Good aims to provide some respite.
Last week, Tickets for Good launched their new programme, the ticket bank, to give discounted event tickets directly to the eight million people most affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Anyone who has received UK government cost-of-living payments is eligible to sign up to the platform.
Lockdown beginnings
Tickets for Good started out as ‘The Ticket Bank’ back in 2019, allowing venues, promoters, and event organisers to upload free tickets for local charities and social groups. During the pandemic, they began work on a new service, ‘Tickets for Good’, that would allow tickets to be pledged directly to NHS workers.
To date, Tickets for Good has registered over 250,000 NHS and general medical staff, charity workers, and volunteers, who have saved over £10mn in face-value ticket costs. Free to sign up, members pay just £3.95 booking fee for free or heavily discounted tickets, and have enjoyed a wide range of events, with a lucky few even attending performances by Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish and Idles, as well as major festivals like Parklife.
New: The Ticket Bank
The Ticket Bank is a nationwide initiative and will provide free or heavily discounted tickets to festivals, live music, theatre, comedy, and sporting events to anyone who has received the government’s cost-of-living payments. Spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying live music and the arts, are proven to be vital to stress relief and positive mental health, yet the cost-of-living crisis has made these activities unaffordable for many. The Ticket Bank will provide an essential break for people across the UK who are going through a tough time.
Tickets for Good already has support from across the country. Festivals including Tramlines, Truck, Bath Festivals, and Deer Shed already offer tickets on the platform. Renowned venues including The Stand Comedy Club, The Clapham Grand and theatres across the country are providing tickets for comedy, cabaret, plays, and theatrical events, with the Roman Baths becoming the first high-profile heritage organisation to pledge involvement.
Organisations such as the London Symphony Orchestra and Regents Opera, are helping to ensure that people squeezed by the current economic crisis can still enjoy classical music and the arts. Tickets for Good is also working with sports organisations, such as Newcastle Thunder, Newcastle Falcons and Durham County Cricket Club to provide discounted tickets to sporting events. Local partners from within South Yorkshire include the Sheffield Theatres, Tramlines, The Leadmill, Førge, The Tuesday Club, Rotherham Theatre, and Music in the Round.
Making an impact
Tickets for Good CEO and co-founder Steve Rimmer has emphasised the importance of what the initiative aims to do:
“The cost of living crisis is having a profound effect on millions of people. Buying tickets for events is just not possible for them as they struggle to balance financial commitments. We’re delighted to help our events partners give back to the nation at large scale through free and discounted tickets.”
Jack Neville, Tickets For Good director of ticketing and growth added:
“Life’s best moments shouldn’t be reserved for those that can afford it. Our mission is to make amazing shared experiences accessible to everyone, from hilarious comedy shows and mesmerising music gigs to the thrill of taking the family to a match day, we’re launching our Ticket Bank to help democratise the arts.”
Singer, Robbie Williams, who is a key supporter of the work Tickets for Good is doing, commented:
“Access to the arts is a cause close to my heart – the magic of live entertainment is something everyone should be able to benefit from. So, I’m thrilled to be working with Tickets for Good as they launch the first UK-wide project to help people struggling with the cost of living crisis to access a fantastic range of events.”
Eligibility for Tickets for Good’s ticket bank is simple: anyone who has received UK government cost of living payments can sign up to the platform immediately. The platform is free to join and members pay a maximum £3.95 booking fee for free or heavily discounted tickets which are capped at £10. Details on who is able to receive cost-of-living payments are available here.
