This July, Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) celebrates their 10th birthday. Since 2009, the charity has been helping vulnerable and disadvantaged young people fulfil their potential by engaging them with music and other arts. YUAF creates a safe space for young people to break free from the fears and barriers they face, talk about mental health issues and shows by example that they can become whoever they want to be. We spoke to Kerry O’Brien, CEO & Founder, to learn more about the important work this innovative organisation does.

What does your charity do?

YUAF is a grassroots organisation, leading the way with creative outreach programmes directly on estates, in schools and on the streets making an impact within the community in a matter of days. In 9 years, we’ve had a positive impact in over 17,000 young people’s lives in London and beyond, developing future talent from singers, songwriters, rappers, fashion designers to dancers. We have three key programmes:

1. Outreach media bus – Taking music workshops into the heart of community
2. Emotional Wellbeing – focussing on education on and developing positive mental health, self-resilience, self-awareness and personal development
3. Creative workshops – Delivering a range of workshops and programmes in centres and schools to include; DJ skills, performance, rapping, singing and visual arts

What challenges do your service users face?
Knife crime grabs the headlines, however, fundamentally it is mental health problems that amplify fears, and poverty magnifies pressures, leaving young people from disadvantaged and privileged backgrounds vulnerable to child exploitation through gang grooming, being taken out of their locality, subjected to violence and specifically targeted during the holiday season.

Do you have any stories that you would like to share?
We first met Adam as a participant on the Outreach Bus. He happened to hear the music from the bus and began to engage with the activities we offered. Little by little he came out of his shell and his talent for rap began to shine. His drive and passion was evident, and YUAF had the privilege of supporting his development, eventually appointing him as our first Young Trustee and head of our youth advisory board. His journey is best summed up in his own words:

“My journey with YUAF started at the age of 15 when I was really struggling in life with no purpose and low self-esteem. I am now 21 and life has changed dramatically for the better; now in full time employment through YUAF’s corporate partnership with Iron Mountain, a successful music career under my belt and the ability to public speak, perform to large audiences and I am proud to say that I have recently been appointed as a trustee. This just goes to show the development we offer to our young people and that this youth charity is youth led.”

What are the current challenges that your organisation is facing?
Capacity. We need funding to reach more young people on projects and the capacity of the organisation is currently maxed.