Young Identity, affectionately known as ‘YI’, is an arts organisation and a charity. YI delivers dynamic poetry and spoken word workshops for young people; we work in partnership with Contact and HOME.

Young Identity’s voice cuts through the noise. We are unique, different and stand out. We believe in the transformative power of the arts in young peoples’ lives. Our mission, to develop literacy, critical thinking and active citizenship for young people, through experimenting with the combined arts. A dynamic and innovative organisation which nurtures the talent of tomorrow. Our mission is empowering those who are at risk of being excellent to fulfil their artistic potential.

Young Identity has worked with artists such as Lemn Sissay, international spoken word icon Saul Williams, dub poetry legend Linton Kwesi Johnson, Ted Hughes Prize Winner Kae Tempest and the late Amiri Baraka. The work of Young Identity has also featured at Manchester International Festival as part of FlexN (a dance style pioneered by New York’s Reggie Roc Gray), a collaboration between local dancers and the poetry collective to explore new ways of storytelling through words and movement. YI have performed all over the UK, from the South Bank Centre including the National Theatre in London to Hay Festival in Herefordshire as well as internationally at The Schaubuhne in Berlin to Frankfurt International School Youth Poetry Slam in Germany to America’s YI have performed at Brave New Voices to Nuyorican Poetry Café.