Fearless voices
A project in Lewisham is helping young women make their voices heard
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Second Wave Centre for Youth Arts in Lewisham, south east London, helps young people to grow, express themselves and shape their futures. The centre gives young people real opportunities, from access to arts projects, to training, employment and leadership experiences.
A £14,950 grant from the Hyde Charitable Trust (HCT) enabled the centre to run Fearless Voices, a project giving young women the space, skills and confidence to challenge misogyny.
Photography, spoken word, music, songwriting and drama workshops helped the young women explore their stories and the issues they faced, from online harassment and social pressures, to sexual exploitation.
“Fearless Voices also gave participants the tools to speak up, lead and create change,” said Felicity Hunt, Hyde Group Director of Communities and Social Impact. “They took charge of debates, hosted discussions, and presented their ideas to community members and local decision-makers.”
Importantly, the project created a supportive network of peers and mentors, so young women could build confidence, solidarity and resilience together. Many shared that, for the first time, they felt truly listened to.
“HCT’s commitment to empowering communities has helped us create a safe, creative space where local young women could build confidence, resilience, and solidarity together [which is] particularly important for those facing risks to their safety and wellbeing,” a spokesperson for Second Wave Centre for Youth Arts Trustees said.
A total of £225k was awarded to our community partners working with people to support aspirations this year. These organisations provide local services supporting and empowering customers to create successful and resilient lives for themselves and their communities.
Initiatives include youth programmes, providing safe physical spaces and spaces to encourage growth and development; training and opportunities to develop skills; advice and support services, helping people to overcome life challenges; and community gardens supporting people to develop new skills, confidence and improve their mental health.
Additionally, a total of £253k was awarded to community partners this year for projects that addressed local issues, met gaps in provision, increased social connection and gave a voice to the community.
“We estimate 23 people received one-to-one support provided by our partners every day last year,” Felicity said. This includes one young person engaging in HCT-funded support every 45 minutes.”
Find out more about the support HCT gave to our customers and our community partners last year in the HCT Annual Review 2024/25 (PDF, 10MB).