Fly Between the Lines

‘Fly Between the Lines’ is a creative project by You Press that engages young people across Westminster, Camden, and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. Through storytelling and poetry, it explores social issues impacting youth in these areas. The project’s creative writing program involved workshops where young participants expressed themselves artistically, supported by facilitators who provided exercises to help them craft conscious, impactful pieces.

Project Aims

The project aimed to give young people a voice, allowing them to explore storytelling and poetry. It not only fostered social inclusiveness but also boosted confidence, empowering participants to share their messages with a wider audience. By the end, young writers were encouraged to continue their artistic journeys and contribute to social cohesion within their communities.

Group Values

The project established five core values:

1. Perseverance to Achieve

2. Respect

3. Openness

4. Teamwork

5. Fun

Themes Explored

Participants discussed themes such as:

• Power, survival, and family
• Dignity, respect, and acceptance
• Overcoming challenges like bullying and isolation
• Conflict, identity, and belonging

Each theme inspired characters and scenarios for stories, allowing young writers to explore issues meaningful to them and their communities.

About You Press

You Press is a London-based social enterprise run by creative artists and volunteers. It supports young writers and poets, empowering them to share their words and art with the world. The organization works to challenge stereotypes, tackle social issues, and promote community cohesion through creative arts and writing. As an organization, You Press is pioneering, specialist, and empowering, with a team that is passionate, cooperative, and professional.

Meet the Team

• Farah Mohammoud - Project Coordinator: A social entrepreneur with six years of experience, he turned a social action campaign into an award-winning social enterprise.
• Samir Sattar - Project Manager: A writer and journalist with a passion for content creation and editing.
• Jemilea Wisdom-Baako - Project Facilitator: A British-Jamaican poet and founder of Writerz and Scribez CIC, she uses art as a tool for social change.
• Anna Hickman - Project Illustrator: A graphic designer with an interest in social causes, specializing in branding and web design.
• Deanna Tuitt - Project Volunteer: A creative writing graduate who loves creating characters and worlds.
• Amando Da Costa - Project Filmmaker: An independent filmmaker with experience in promotional material and short films.
• Katherine Mejia - Project Volunteer: An aspiring engineer who enjoys expressing her creativity through art.
• Deimante Stankute - Project Photographer: A photographer and videographer passionate about capturing unique perspectives.