Islington People’s Rights has turned fifty

Concluding the 50th anniversary programme is an exclusive screening of the 1969 BBC drama Cathy Come Home directed by Ken Loach, followed by a Q&A with the critically acclaimed director himself.

Cathy Come Home + Ken Loach Q&A

To mark 50 years of tackling poverty, Islington People’s Rights (IPR) is delighted to have organised a special screening of the BBC drama Cathy Come Home, followed by Q&A with the film’s acclaimed director, Ken Loach. First broadcast on television in 1966, it was watched by 12 million people, and had a major impact on its audience. 54 years on, homelessness and poverty continue to be issues worthy of attention and discussion. You can book tickets here.

Tuesday 10th March, 6.30pm
Rio Cinema
107 Kingsland High Street
London E8 2PB

Exhibition at Islington Museum

Islington People’s Rights (IPR) has been working for half a century to improve the lives and futures of people in the borough. By offering specialist, independent advice on welfare benefits and debt, IPR seeks to tackle problems which, if left unchecked, can dramatically affect people’s lives.

From 2 November 2019 – 21 January 2020, an exhibition at Islington Museum charted IPR’s development over the past five decades in the context of ongoing welfare reform and its continuing work to meet the needs of local residents. Today, over a third of Islington’s population live in poverty meaning that there remains a continued and growing need for IPR’s services.

Download the accompanying commemorative booklet (PDF).

Oral Histories

In order to capture the stories of founding members and Islington residents and organisations that have come into contact with IPR, a series of oral histories was recorded. Listen to them here:

Carol O’Brien – IPR’s early years

Saiqa Pandor – An Islington resident since the 1980s

John Muldoon – IPR 1980s – 2000s

Yussuf Ahmed – The Islington Somali Community and IPR

Press Coverage

Islington People’s Rights received considerable local press coverage in relation to the exhibition and linked programme of events:

Islington Gazette 31st October 2019

Islington Gazette 25th November 2019

Islington Tribune 8th November 2019

Islington Now 7th November 2019

Islington People’s Rights is turning fifty

Since Islington People’s Rights (IPR) was founded in 1969, we have been committed to reducing poverty and the effects of debt in Islington.  We’re celebrating this important work by launching an exhibition that charts the organisation’s history over the past 50 years in response to welfare reform and the changing face of poverty in Islington. To coincide with the exhibition, you can also take part in a series of free events including drop in advice sessions, a guided walk around Clerkenwell by author David Rosenberg looking at local radical history, a talk on the impact of Universal credit and storytelling and family activities for the under 5s.