For Hackney’s children, their stories can be bleak; at 45%, Hackney has the worst child poverty rate compared with all London boroughs and the cost of living has reached the highest level in 10 years. There is a severe lack of creative opportunities for children and poverty can be a barrier to access and participation. Your Story Starts Here, provides free access to local children 6-15. 80% of our beneficiaries are people of colour, and 81% live in areas in the top 20% of income deprivation.

Your Story Starts Here provides: a safe welcoming space, mental health and wellbeing support through mentoring and skills development which boosts confidence and educational attainment. The programme delivers 12- to 14-week projects every Spring, Summer, and Autumn providing five after-school and weekend writing labs. All projects culminate in innovative, professionally produced final products - from beautifully designed anthologies, to audio dramas and public art installations.