Dalston Thing cocktail. Pic: Sarah Kidd

Dalston bars will start selling a charity cocktail from today in a new fundraising scheme to support local causes.

The ‘Dalston Thing’ cocktail fundraiser is driven by a new initiative, Dalston Bridge, which has also launched today. The initiative, started by local business people and residents, aims to allow the whole community to benefit from Dalston’s nighttime economy.

Participating bars selling the rum and melon-liquor cocktail include Voodoo Rays, The Alibi, Dalston Superstores and Birthdays.

One pound of every cocktail sold will be donated to local charities like youth organisations Hackney Pirates, Bootstrap Campus, and Circle Sports. Others include arts rehabilitation centre Studio Upstairs, and homeless charity Hackney Winter Night Shelter.

Dee O’Connell, founder of Dalston Bridge, said: “I have long been fascinated by the changes in the area and wanted to create a new way to share the benefits – despite all the great opportunities locally, Dalston is still the twenty-first most deprived of London’s 621 wards.”

“There is so much opportunity for businesses to get on board, for people in the area to give and for local charities to benefit. We can’t wait to bring even more businesses on board and grow what we can achieve even further.”

Henry Trew, manager of Bootstrap Campus, said that he was proud to work with Dalston Bridge. Trew added: “It’s a positive way for people that live, work and play in Dalston to help address inequality and the many social problems that still persist in the area.”

Local estate agents Currell Residential will be making an additional donation to Dalston Bridge initiative in support of the cocktail fundraiser.

The initiative will announce further partnerships later in the year.