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've 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.
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We welcome interest from all content creators who are Black female, including if you are from a mixed Black heritage background.
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We also welcome applications from young people who identify as non-binary and connect with womanhood.
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You must be aged between 18 and 25 years old.
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You must be living in the UK.
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We are especially interested in hearing from Disabled and Neurodivergent creators or artists, whose stories are often underrepresented.
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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, aged 13-25, 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 don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via by emailing niki.evangelou@youngminds.org.uk.
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.
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.
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.
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’re not alone in what they’re feeling.
- Free to define strength, softness and self-expression in a way that feels right for them.
Your content doesn’t need to achieve all of these goals – even if it supports just one, that’s more than enough.
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’re 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’s completely okay. We still would love to hear about what you have in mind:
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A recorded spoken word piece or written poem.
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A music or rap video.
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A 60-90 second “reel” style video, edited for Instagram or TikTok – like a “day in the life”.
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A cinematic short film.
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A zine, comic book or illustration.
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A long-form video suitable for TikTok on 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’d 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.
How to apply
If you’re 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.
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.
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:
FAQs
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.
We believe all creators, especially those from underrepresented or minoritised communities, should be paid fairly for their work. We’ve developed content rate bands with clear criteria and supplements for online reach. During the proposal process, you’re welcome to share what you’ve typically charged for similar work. Fees will then be finalised as part of the contract.
Applications are open to individuals aged between 18 and 25 years old.
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.
We aim to respond to everyone in early May. Meetings with the creators selected to progress will start thereafter.
We’re hoping to go live with content from August 2026. Ideally, we’d receive final versions between June and July, but timelines are flexible and can be discussed to ensure you feel comfortable with them.
Yes, we’re only able to work with UK-based content creators for this project.
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. And in 2025, we commissioned content from both young Queer Disabled and Muslim creators.
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’re 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.
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.