Our History

Stuart Low was a young Islington man who sadly took his own life in 1997 after failing to find the help he needed to cope with schizophrenia.

His death prompted local people to form the Stuart Low Trust (SLT). Their aim was to create social therapeutic activities for vulnerable, local people.

How we help

Most of our activities take place in the evenings or at weekends, when people may be at their lowest ebb and many services are closed.

"Sometimes just getting your activity flyer in the post keeps me alive." Stuart Low Trust Participant

We are proud of what we have achieved in Islington since we were formed in 1999, but we think that there is more that we can do.

Our achievements

Over the years we have been fortunate to have support from the local community as well as several London-based and national organisations.

External achievements have included:

London Health Commission award for Mental Well-being in 2010
One of three featured charities in the Cripplegate Foundation’s Unlocking the potential: Volunteers in Islington report in 2010
PQASSO accreditation in 2011
Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2015
SLT volunteers recognised at the Voluntary Action Islington Awards in 2016
Healthy London Workplace Charter in 2017
Team London Award 2018

The Sunday Philosophy forum was featured in the Guardian’s Comment is Free section in 2013.

The British Medical Journal chose the Trust as its small charity of the year for 2014 and then repeated it every year.

Be part of our history

We very much appreciate the contributions that past staff, volunteers and trustees have made.

If you would like to be part of our history:

Sign up for our activities.
Be a part of our history by volunteering
Help us to do even more by fundraising for us

Latest

Mindfulness in the time of Covid-19

Mindfulness can help us pay more attention, especially as we undertake social distancing measures in response to COVID-19. By practising being more present in all we do, we can also begin to appreciate more, to develop more compassion for ourselves and others, and in doing so enrich our experience of life.
Ways of Seeing: still relevant in a non-binary world?

John Berger’s ‘Ways of Seeing’ had a profound effect on how society looks at art. Its challenge is the way that we see art and mirrors the exploration of art and creativity that takes place at the Stuart Low Trust’s Art programmes. We explore some of the big questions relating to the art world.
Diversity is our strength in June 2020

This year’s pride month is focusing on how the Black, Asian and minority ethnic community has been instrumental in championing LGBT+ rights. At the Stuart Low Trust, we recognise that the Black, Asian and minority ethnic community has made significant contributions to that movement as well as Islington and wider society.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex or Asexual (LGBTQIA), gender-fluid, non-binary, nongender, third gender support

You may feel alone but you're not. We've put together a list of organisations that support the LGBTQIA individuals. Use it to get the help that you need.