We are Jyoti and Mark, friends birthing a very special project for young people in the North of England.

Esteemed Creatives is an inclusive, democratic learning centre where young people can develop their whole selves, through directing creative adventures within a community of others doing the same.

We are asking for your help to make our vision a reality!

THE ISSUE

An NHS survey in 2020 found that 1 in 6 young people in England (aged 5 to 16) experienced mental health problems in 2020, up from 1 in 9 in 2017. Many of these challenges are heightened by experiences at school, resulting in families taking their children out. There is little on offer as an alternative, particularly for teenagers to access. Young people are falling through the gap and the system does not have the resources to catch them.

Alongside this, youth unemployment is presently at the lowest recorded level since records began in 1992. The world is asking for very different things than it was when the education system was birthed and if we want young people to be able to carve a path for their lives, we need to equip them differently.

Society is ready for change but as Buckminster Fuller recognised:

"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

THE SOLUTION

Esteemed Creatives is that new model. A social enterprise building a viable alternative to traditional education based upon consent, inspiration and creativity. We are a child centred learning community, focused on providing excellent resources for creative mastery with inspirational, talented and passionate adults holding space for the unique blossoming of each young person.

Our space creates independent, self directed leaders that understand how to both create what they want from life and relate honourably with one another and the planet. We support young people to unlock their potential and realise their ambitions, linking them into the creative industries through our extensive network of professional artists. We provide a playground of opportunity, surrounded by adults that have carved their own path.

“Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves” Jean Piaget

WHAT MAKES IT GREAT

Empowered young people, that have been given the space to follow their innate curiosity and develop into their whole selves are the most equipped to create a meaningful life that feeds their community (and changes the world!).

When provided with a rich, well resourced environment & the tools to believe in and trust oneself, young people will leave our care already firmly anchored on a path that lights them up. They will graduate with skills that can be monetised or transferred into portfolios if they want to continue their learning journey into higher education.

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

Alvin Toffler

OUR VENUE

We have secured a fantastic venue in Todmorden which meets all of our needs!

THE BELL TENT - Forest Sensory Area

The Bell Tent overlooks the stream at the back of our venue and will be a safe, quiet space, always open for reflection, meditation, rest and recuperation.

THE GARAGE - Yang Zone

The Garage is a space for messy, noisy, techy creation. From music & video production to woodwork, painting and gaming, the vibe is BIG, the resources are top notch and we have a long line of experts from creative industries waiting to get involved with us.

THE CONSERVATORY - Yin Zone

The Conservatory is all about inspiration. A light and social space for movement, crafts, performance, writing and dreaming.

THE WOODS

Our centre backs onto Badger Woods, which means that our space expands for miles. We will spend time daily in wild woodland to get into our bodies and connect to the land.

This isn’t just a space where young people can follow their innate creative drive, it is also a place where we learn about community, relating through systems which enable shared power and collective decision making, essential skills for life.

After lots of number crunching, we are proud to say that we are able to offer 3 full days of provision every week during term time for just £200 per child each month.

We provide the technology & training for young people to ride the lightning bolts of their creativity and create a life that nourishes them on every level.

"Play is the highest form of research."

Albert Einstein

ABOUT US

Jyoti is a therapist, researcher and author who has carved her own path through life. After 10 years of exploring alternatives to mainstream education across the world, in 2022 she translated her findings into a book called What To Do About School. She is passionately devoted to young people and creating new ways of facilitating their greatest blossoming.

Mark is a home educating father, entrepreneur, networker and community organiser. After running a multimillion-pound business, he shifted gears and began to pour his passion and creativity into creating positive social and environmental change in and around Manchester and is cofounder of Soultribe - a community of heart centric activists and leaders in the UK.

THE STORY SO FAR...

Jyoti knew she needed to recreate the incredible things she discovered during her research and after reading What To Do About School, Mark decided to take his children out of school. Already the best of friends, they teamed up and found the ideal location.

The community will open in October 2023 for 20 young people in Todmorden. In February Jyoti is beginning a PhD study on the project, to demonstrate it as a viable alternative for young people struggling within mainstream education. Over the coming years, they intend to expand, serving young people ages 7-18 years old, with centres opening across the country/world, creating a viable alternative to the system as it exists.

THE FINANCES

REWARDS

To say thank you for supporting us, we have a number of rewards on offer!

All Funders: Celebratory Thank You Tea Party at Esteemed Creatives when we are up and running

£25: A tie dye Esteemed Creatives Tote Bag made by the youth community

£52: The above +

Your name featured within our ESTEEMED CREATIVES LEGACY project (a big art piece cocreated by our community)

£110: The above +

A surprise, hand made gift specifically for you from Esteemed Creatives

THANK YOU

We would love for you to join the family as an advocate, ambassador & ally of Esteemed Creatives. Anything you can invest will stoke the flames of our creation and heighten the impact of this incredible project.

Let's change the world through changing childhood, TOGETHER!