Our Story
We are a Northampton-based community co-operative of local people promoting sustainable living, environmental awareness and community co-operation in Northampton.
Founded in the 1990s, the organisation benefits from and nurtures the goodwill of local volunteers to organise an annual free festival of music, art, poetry, dance and education that showcases the diverse talent of the Northampton community. Whilst the annual festival remains important to the organisation, our activities have expanded significantly beyond this event.
Our work on building environmental awareness has delivered valuable support and advice on energy efficiency that has helped local residents reduce their fuel bills. We have also established several social enterprises, including marquee hire and bicycle recycling to help generate funds to maintain our community projects.
We are located on the ground floor of the Umbrella Pavilion on the Racecourse, that we are refurbishing to become a community resource.
Volunteers are the backbone of our organisation and, through support from people like you, we can help build a compassionate and supportive community in our town.
“THE IMPOSSIBLE COMMUNITY”
The Umbrella Fair Organisation has existed in two distinct phases: the original period of existence from 1990-94 and the revived organisation running since 2007. The current UFO has grown into an organisation looking to hold activities 365 days a year.
Back in 1990, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and Amnesty International all had groups meeting in Northampton. There were a number of people who were part of more than one group, so there was a lot of crossover. None of the groups were big enough to put on an event themselves, but collectively they could. In 1991 a number of members from the groups came together and put on an event. As they were working together under one 'umbrella', they called it the Umbrella Fayre. It was a great success and the collective enjoyed working together, so a new group was formed - the Umbrella Fair Organisation.
OUR SUMMEr Festival
The History
Held by the people, for the people of Northampton.
The Umbrella Fair is Northampton's arts & music community festival was previously held every August on the Racecourse.
The future
We plan to relaunch the Umbrella Fair summer festival in a spectacular way that will bring together the people of Northampton as one vibrant and resilient community. We would love for you to be involved.