Help RISE deliver our creative self- empowerment programme to 16- 25 yr olds in Westminster! We are the RISE Collective, since 2016, we’ve been on a mission to co-create opportunities that support 16 -25 year olds to thrive personally, creatively and professionally and to re-imagine systems that perpetuate inequality and discrimination.  We need your help to fund our AcKnowledge 2022 project. The Background “Spending on youth services in England has been cut by 70% in real terms in less than a decade.”  *1  Young people are living through “the biggest educational disruption in modern history, a surge in unemployment and the psychological effects of lockdown isolation.”  *2 We are asking for your donations to help counter the effects of these cuts and provide our 16- 25 year olds with the opportunities and support they deserve.  "Through participating in AcKnowledge 2020, so many students developed the confidence, ambition and creative skills to thrive academically as well as in their personal development and employability skills. The AcKnowledge project was a starting point, a foundation and an inspiration.”   Carole, performing Arts lecturer at CWC  The Programme The AcKnowledge project is a journey which supports 16-25 year olds to find  their authentic voice, exploring spoken word poetry and performance as a form of activism and self expression. It centres and amplifies the voices of students within their community and beyond. AcKnowledge is led by industry experts, this year’s programme will be led by international slam champion and activist Miss Yankey alongside rapper/activist Kemastry. The changes AcKnowledge  will make for these young people:  Through taking part in AcKnowledge our participants will -Increase their confidence, sense of self and self- esteem. -Increase in their skills and access to resources to succeed in education, employment or training.  -Improve their mental health and general wellbeing.  -Have increased community cohesion within their college community - Increase their experience of art as activism Participants will leave the project with:  -A professionally filmed individual ‘showreel’ edit of their slam performance -A certificate of participation for future employers/ their CV/ portfolio, including an example of copy text to evidence their involvement in the AcKnowledge project.  What will your donation do? £10 - buys all the materials/equipment needed for one student  £30  - pays for a student mentor to take part in paid work experience  £50 - pays for a whole week of the programme for one participant  £75 - pays for 5 students to have a professionally filmed individual ‘showreel’ edit of their slam performance for their portfolio £120 - pays for an industry expert for one day of the AcKnowledge programme “I really enjoyed AcKnowledge. It was the best thing I did throughout my level 2 course, I learned so much.” AcKnowledge 2020 participant The legacy RISE creates opportunities for members to connect to a wider community of young people, creatives, activists, organisations,  employers, experts and allies.   Watch this 1 min film featuring some of the AcKnowledge 2021 participants discussing their experiences:  <iframe media_type="0" media_id="hbPLtFpMjpo" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hbPLtFpMjpo/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe> Watch this 4 min film featuring the AcKnowledge 2021 student’s slam performances! <iframe media_type="0" media_id="WxghjQqnfYQ" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WxghjQqnfYQ/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe> Why do our programmes work? -Our programmes are shaped by young people and have a lasting legacy -Our programmes are accessible, creative, fun, relevant, empowering. -We create an inclusive environment promoting diversity and equity . -Our delivery teams reflect the demographic of our participants, providing inspirational and relatable role models -Our programmes promote creativity, self-expression, mental health/ wellbeing and activism. -We connect participants to a range of networks, industry professionals, mentors/ coaches.   -Our programmes facilitate youth-led exploration of topics important to young people, encouraging connection to voice and amplifying their lived experience. References:  *1 <a href="https://www.ymca.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/YMCA-Out-of-Service-report.pdf" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.ymca.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/YMCA-Out-of-Service-report.pdf</a> *2 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/02/a-sacrificed-generation-psychological-scars-of-covid-on-young-may-have-lasting-impact"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/02/a-sacrificed-generation-psychological-scars-of-covid-on-young-may-have-lasting-impact" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/02/a-sacrificed-generation-psychological-scars-of-covid-on-young-may-have-lasting-impact</a> </a> Thank you for taking the time to read this. We really appreciate your help, whether that is sharing this campaign or making a donation! Our Gofundme campaign ends on Tuesday 22nd March!

Anonymous

Burnett Brown

David Rae

Don Flavington

Jonathan Wakeham

Isaura Barbe-Brown

Joseph Devaraj

Rachel Kerr

Mel Davies

Natasha Gautama

Stuart Mees

Maeve Wadge

Oliver Davidson

Mark Brooks

Leela Axon

Max Lilley

RISE: The AcKnowledge 2022 Project

RISE: The AcKnowledge 2022 Project

Still £1,479 to go. Help us build momentum.