Beat The Streets spokesman, Joseph Patten, representing the team behind the festivals £76,055 donation to Framework

 Nottingham music festival, Beat The Streets, has won a national title for their work supporting the homelessness crisis in the East Midlands.

The festival has been recognised for raising over £320,000 for Framework Housing Association.

The events bar takings, merchandise and ticket sale proceeds go directly to the charity with the majority of day staff donating their wages.

The National Award for Making the Most Positive Community Impact is a new category introduced to the UK Festival Awards this year, the winners were announced at Manchester’s Escape to Freight Island on Tuesday, December 6.

 “What Beat The Streets provides is needed more than ever.”

George Akins, Festival organiser

Framework’s chief executive, Andrew Redfern, said: “From the outset Beat the Streets has been a hugely popular focus for those in and around Nottingham who are raising awareness of homelessness and encouraging the public to contribute towards tackling it.

“We must also acknowledge the contributions by hundreds of bands, solo artists, technicians, stewards and administrators who have so generously given their time and talent.”

Beat The Streets spokesman, Joseph Patten, said: “We’re always delighted with how much we raise through Beat The Streets and the £320,000 we’ve been able to donate so far has gone towards some really wonderful initiatives.

“This includes increasing capacity at temporary shelters when the weather is at its worst, opening a permanent shelter all year round, hiring two full time mental health practitioners and helping towards the refurb of a new accommodation which can help resettle 16 service users.”

Framework works to give everyone a roof over their head, tackling the issues that caused them to be homeless.

Managing director for Beat The Streets, George Akins, said: “I’m really proud of what we have accomplished so far but going into this winter what Beat The Streets provides is needed more than ever and we hope to build on this success to enable us to help Framework support rough sleepers for as long as we can.”


The charity finds service users volunteering and employment roles to empower them to become independent in the hopes of improving their quality of life.

Framework Housing Association opened in 2001, supporting over 18,000 individuals every year.

Beat The Streets has had support from local artists including Jake Bugg and Sleaford Mods who have raised the profile of the festival.

Nottingham band, Evil Scarecrow, performing at Rock City for Beat The Streets festival (Photo Credits: Jake Haseldine)

Mr Patten said: “We make sure we have as much information about Framework and what they do on our platforms and around the festival all day, including posters, fundraising buckets and video case studies that are played in front of the crowds in Rock City between each act.”

Minimum donation prices of £10 goes towards improving the lives of vulnerable people with over 15,000 tickets sold since the multi-venue festival began in 2018 in response to the homelessness crisis.

Buy tickets for Beat The Streets 2023 here

Donate to Framework Housing Association here

 

  • From 2018 to 2019 the charity had supported 3,378 people in their own homes and accommodated 3,235 people in Framework’s own housing
  • That same year they found 2,004 service users employment, education or volunteering positions and helped 1,052 people address their personal issues including alcohol or drugs
  • This year the festival raised £76,000 for the charity that went towards accommodation, resettlement work and specialist support with many benefiting from interventions responding to individual needs
  • The opening of permanent accommodation, Sneinton Hermitage, accommodated more than 60 high risk service users
  • Framework’s mental health practitioners provide much needed support to over 1,500 service users with complex needs including substance misuse