Calling all Black female creators and artists Are you a Black female content creator or artist, aged between 18 and 25 and living in the UK? Work with us to create digital content that shares and celebrates your experiences, to support Black young women and girls with their mental health. What is this opportunity about? We’re looking to commission five young Black female creators or artists, aged between 18 to 25 and living in the UK, to produce social-first content that shares your stories and experiences – under the theme A space to be you. This theme has come from feedback in research sessions with Black young people, who have shared that they want mental health content to make their community feel safe and seen. The content you create will be posted on our social media channels and website to help Black young women feel more connected in community and to support them with their mental health. Who can apply? Below we have outlined some important information about eligibility criteria for this project. Please read the criteria carefully. We welcome interest from all content creators who are Black female, including if you are from a mixed Black heritage background. We also welcome applications from young people who identify as non binary and connect with womanhood. You must be aged between 18 and 25 years old. You must be living in the UK. We are especially interested in hearing from Disabled and Neurodivergent creators or artists, whose stories are often underrepresented. You do not need to have an established following on social media. However, this project does require you to create social first content that resonates with Black young women or Black Queer young men, aged 13 to 25, so please keep that in mind when sharing your proposal. This is a paid opportunity. Fees will be discussed as part of the contracting for this work. All commissioned artists and content creators are responsible for paying their own tax and National Insurance contributions through self assessment. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us via by emailing niki.evangelou@youngminds.org.uk. Timeline Applications will be open from Thursday 2 April 2026. The deadline to apply is Sunday 19 April 2026 at 11 59pm. If successful, we will be in contact and working with you from May 2026 until your content is complete. We are hoping to receive your content between June July 2026. We are happy to discuss timelines with you further, during the contracting part of this work. What content are we looking for? Your work can explore any of these themes below in whatever way feels authentic to you. This could include naming pressures, challenging stereotypes or speaking on taboo topics, if you want it to. You might want to explore one of the topics in particular, or cover all three. Content that shares and celebrates you and your story – the ups and the downs Lean into your identity, individuality, joy and the communities that shape you. You might explore culture, friendships, family life, hair and skin, code-switching, belonging - or simply what day-to-day life looks like for you. This could include reflecting on personal experiences or challenges if that feels right to you, but it can also be about joy, growth, and the things that make you feel most like yourself. Content that makes space for Black young women and girls to be fully themselves We’re looking for content that encourages you to exist without pressure or expectation. We want to see what it looks like to just be you - without your identity and your Blackness being questioned. This could include reflecting on how Black young women are represented in the media and how that makes you feel, or how it impacts how you show up in the world. Or it can simply be a celebration of everything that makes you, you. Content that validates softness and shares what that looks like for you Black young women shared that they often feel an expectation from others to be strong, hypervigilant, or always seem OK. They want to see content that validates softness - however you define it. You might explore topics like vulnerability, rest, balance, play, or what strength looks like on your own terms. Four things we want young Black women to feel: Part of a community that brings them a sense of hope, joy and belonging. Their voice, stories and experiences matter. They are not alone in what they are feeling. They are allowed to be vulnerable and not okay all the time. Your content does not need to achieve all of these goals, even if it supports just one, that is more than enough. Sharing your story safely We recognise that this content will be going out to an online audience, and for some, that can feel exposing or even risky sometimes. As such, we would encourage you to consider what you feel comfortable sharing publicly. We know that everyone will be at different points in their journey of exploring and understanding their identity. We also know that sharing your story safely will mean different things for different people, and we are open to having ongoing discussions around what this might look like for you. Content thought starters This is not a prescriptive list but is simply a mix of ideas that might give you some inspiration. Your content style might not be reflected here, and that is completely okay. We still would love to hear about what you have in mind: A recorded spoken word piece or written poem. A music or rap video. A 60 to 90 second reel style video, edited for Instagram or TikTok, like a day in the life. A cinematic short film. A zine, comic book or illustration. A long form video suitable for TikTok or Instagram, like a storytime. You might want to create a package of content, as opposed to a stand alone piece. There may also be an opportunity for you to write a blog for us, or to feature in our next podcast episode. These are all things we would be able to explore with you, should we look to take your proposal forward to the next stage. For more content inspiration, check out our other content celebrating diverse stories: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/celebrating-black-disabled-stories/ https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/celebrating-muslim-stories/ https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/celebrating-queer-disabled-stories/ How to apply If you are interested in getting involved, please submit your details and ideas to us using the sign up form below. You will be asked to share about the content ideas you have. The application closing date is Sunday 19 April 2026. Got a question? Just send an email to niki.evangelou@youngminds.org.uk. Apply here: https://youngminds.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eaPh7fAMoIWyZDw How we assess your application We review applications using the following criteria to decide which content ideas move forward for commissioning: Understanding of the brief, themes, and audience, How clearly your idea reflects the project's goals. Creative approach, Originality, storytelling, and format. Alignment with our AJEDI values, Anti racism, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Feasibility, Confidence and alignment in delivery goals. Safeguarding and wellbeing awareness, Consideration for yourself and your audience. Audience and community engagement, Opportunities for participation, connection, and meaningful impact. Accessibility We want to be as accommodating as possible throughout this process. Please let us know about any access needs or preferences in the sign up form, so that we can be aware of how to support you. If you require this document in another format or language, just let us know and we will get that sent over to you as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please email Niki, the Senior Digital Content Officer leading this project, at niki.evangelou@youngminds.org.uk. How we decided on the themes Earlier this year, we worked with Participation People to hear directly from Black young women about their experiences of mental health. We want their voices to shape the digital content we create or share, so it better reflects the needs, experiences and realities of these communities. Here are some of the things participants told us matter most: Authentic stories and experiences. They want to see Black young women sharing honest, real and unfiltered experiences, showing up as their true and full selves. Space to lean into softness. Participants spoke about the pressure on Black young women to always appear strong. Many also described feeling hypervigilant around others. They want space where they can be open about struggles, lean into their softness, and feel supported. Participants spoke about the pressure on Black young women to always appear strong. Many also described feeling hypervigilant around others. They want space where they can be open about struggles, lean into their softness, and feel supported. Cultural representation Cultural understanding matters. They want to see experiences that reflect the realities, nuance and shared moments of being a Black young woman. FAQs Is this a paid opportunity? Yes. All work for this project is paid. Deliverables and fees will be agreed as part of your contract. All commissioned creators are responsible for paying their own tax and National Insurance contributions through self assessment. What are the fees? Can you share more details? We believe all creators, especially those from underrepresented or minoritised communities, should be paid fairly for their work. We have developed content rate bands with clear criteria and supplements for online reach. During the proposal process, you are welcome to share what you have typically charged for similar work. Fees will then be finalised as part of the contract. Is there an age limit? Applications are open to individuals aged between 18 and 25 years old. I'm non binary, am I eligible to apply? This opportunity is designed to centre the experiences of Black young women including trans women. If you are non binary and also identify with womanhood, you can apply under the category you identify and feel most comfortable with. When will I hear back from you? We aim to respond to everyone in early May. Meetings with the creators selected to progress will start thereafter. When will I need to complete the content, I have proposed to create? We are hoping to go live with content from August 2026. Ideally, we would receive final versions between June and July, but timelines are flexible and can be discussed to ensure you feel comfortable with them. Do I need to be based in the UK? Yes, we are only able to work with UK based content creators for this project. Do you have any examples of similar work you have done with creators or artists before? Yes, we do. Throughout 2024, we worked closely with a group of 12 Black Disabled creators and artists. You can find examples of some of the content here: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/celebrating-black-disabled-stories/ And in 2025, we commissioned content from both young Queer Disabled and Muslim creators. Find the content here: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/celebrating-queer-disabled-stories/ https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/celebrating-muslim-stories/ I have not got a big following or done any paid work with organisations before. Can I still apply? Yes, absolutely. We value creativity and the ability to respond to the themes outlined over the size of your following. All creators are paid fairly, even if you are less established. We have base fees for digital content commissions to ensure fair compensation for your time and expertise. For creators with larger followings over 10k on a main social account, a small additional supplement is available. Why are you running this project? Both public data and insight tell us that many Black young people experience poorer mental health outcomes while also facing barriers to accessing support that feels safe, culturally relevant and affirming. Stigma, discrimination and a lack of representation in mainstream conversations about mental health can make it harder for them to feel seen, heard and supported. For Black young women, mental health challenges are often compounded by the intersecting impacts of racism and misogyny, which can create additional barriers to feeling safe, seen and supported. Creating opportunities to platform these voices helps more young people see themselves reflected in the stories and support we share, while also creating space for hope and joy.