Collection of stories, poems and raps by underrepresented children released

An organisation which promotes creative writing from underrepresented and marginalised groups has unveiled its latest project.

The Look Like Me Book Challenge (C.I.C.) has launched Raised Voices, a collection of stories, poetry and raps by black children and young people across the UK. 

Raised Voices showcases the lived experiences of young authors aged seven to 18, tackling themes such as the cost of living, school stress, belonging, and positive identity.

Winsome Duncan, from Bermondsey, set up the Look Like Me Book Challenge during lockdown, with three virtual workshops with 30 black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) children authors aged seven to 12 years. 

The publisher and Southwark entrepreneur winner said: “The Look Like Me Book Challenge is vital because we provide a platform for young authors who would otherwise remain voiceless and invisible.”

In November last year, a study by The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education found that 30 per cent of children’s books published in 2022 featured BAME characters, a significant increase from the four per cent first reported in 2017. 

This increase was also echoed in the number of BAME main characters, up from one per cent in 2017 to 14 per cent in 2022.

But, Ms Duncan says there is still a long way to go.

Raised Voices aims to improve literacy among black children whilst dispelling negative stereotypes and reshaping the narrative surrounding black children. 

Funded by the BBC Children in Need’s We Move Fund, the project is now taking its message to the streets as part of a nationwide billboard campaign.

The Look Like Me Book Challenge (C.I.C.) is one of 66 organisations to be a recipient in the first round of the fund which focuses on investing in the development of black children and young people across the UK.

Pictured top: Look Like Me Book Challenge members hold published copies of Raised Voices (Picture: Winsome Duncan)