The Roses is launching a week-long fundraising campaign to raise £5,000 in public donations, which will unlock an additional £5,000 in match funding. This support will help deliver The Future’s Now festival during the Easter half term—a vibrant, creative event designed to tackle social isolation and poor mental health among young people.

Following the success of this year’s festival, The Roses welcomed large numbers of young people through its doors to enjoy retro gaming, experiment with virtual reality and relax with film screenings. The day-long event helped young attendees experience a sense of belonging within the arts, while giving them the space to express themselves creatively.

This year, we want to go even further. The Future’s Now will offer young people a range of creative opportunities to build confidence and foster connection through film, gaming and cultural engagement. In Gloucestershire, 1 in 5 young people struggle with their mental health, with many feeling isolated or unseen. Alongside delivering the festival, our goal is to create a programme of free events and social spaces designed for young people—and shaped by young people through co-design.

But we can’t do this without your support.

From Tue 2 Dec to Tue 9 Dec, we have just one week to raise £5,000. Thanks to matched funding from the Julia Rausing Trust and Keith Norton, every pound donated by the public will be doubled—meaning every £1 you give becomes £2.

By blending popular culture with local identity, the festival aims to spark curiosity, encourage self-expression, and strengthen community connection. Crucially, young people will help co-design elements of the programme, giving them agency, a platform for their voices, and a safe space where they feel they belong.

“In Gloucestershire, over 1,800 children accessed mental health support through schools last year, with demand rising,” said Georgia Shire, Children and Young People Producer. “With thanks to Big Give, the Julia Rausing Trust and Keith Norton, we will be able to provide young people in Gloucestershire with the support and access they need to feel connected and express themselves creatively.”

The Big Give campaign will run from Tue 2 Dec to Tue 9 Dec. Keep an eye out for updates as we launch this exciting initiative to give young people a creative space to belong.

You can donate here.