Brixton charity receives £180K to support young black creatives
A Brixton-based charity has just received £180,000 in funding to support young black creatives over the next three years.
Poetic Unity, in Windrush Square, Brixton, received the financial boost from an independent grant-maker, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Founded in 2015, Poetic Unity delivers 1,141 services to more than 40,000 young people in the UK with regular programmes focused on using poetry as a tool to support young people’s mental health.
The funding will be stretched across three years and will help the charity create campaigns to increase awareness of issues including sickle cell disease, anti-misogyny, and homelessness.
Through these campaigns, the charity aims to train up to 20 young people a year on how to run programmes and support their own businesses.
Although the charity supports young people from all backgrounds, it particularly focuses on support for young people from black and black-mixed backgrounds who are marginalised.
The team is black-led with more than 10 years experience of working with young offenders, marginalised young people, and children at risk.
Ryan J. Matthews-Robinson, founder of Poetic Unity, said: “Poetic Unity is delighted to announce this pivotal partnership with the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
“This funding will enable us to enhance our initiatives, unlocking even more opportunities for positive change through creative expression.”
Catherine Hillis, director of a Fairer Future, Esmée Fairbairn, said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting Poetic Unity, who provide safe and inclusive spaces for young people to explore their creative expression, supporting them to raise their aspirations and influence change in their lives and the world around them.”
Pictured top: Poetic Unity delivers 1,141 services to more than 40,000 young people in the UK (Picture: Poetic Unity)
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