Poetic Unity is an accredited Living Wage employer originating in Lambeth and still based in Brixton 10 years later. Their mission to empower young people, help them find their own voices, and find careers that bring them joy reflects founder Ryan Matthews-Robinson’s own life journey.
Getting into charity work
“If you’d told me when I was younger that I’d start a charity I wouldn’t believe it. As a mixed heritage kid at school, I felt I didn’t have a voice. Parents always believed the teachers, so when I faced discrimination from teachers I felt isolated and silenced.”
“My route into the charity sector was via making an album with my musician grandfather to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research. My Grandmother had Alzheimer’s. From that I started talking about Alzheimer’s in schools and colleges, where I made connections within the voluntary sector and with people working with young people. I also started using other means of communication alongside music – including Spoken Word.
“Then I saw George the Poet. I saw him as someone like me – a working-class Londoner. I never thought of myself as a poet until somebody told me that something I’d written was a dope poem. Having found my voice through spoken word, I wanted to help other young people find and use theirs.
Fair pay for young people
Poetic Unity in matching green t shirts – photo by Ruby Markham
“I believe there’s a deep-rooted connection – via race, being working class, and youth –between us and the people who come to us. They understand how Poetic Unity means a safe space to be their authentic selves. I’m helping young people find their voice and the safe space I didn’t get.
“It’s always been a priority at Poetic Unity that staff are paid fairly, but with the cost of living crisis it’s even more essential that businesses show they are serious about supporting their staff.
“Being an accredited Living Wage Employer enhances your reputation as an employer. We’ve always committed to paying at least London Living Wage since we started 10 years ago, and we still believe in being leaders in paying young people fairly. It shows young people that they’re valued. If young people aren’t being valued, what does that say about the future of this world?”
More information
- More about Poetic Unity: Instagram/ Tiktok: @PoeticUnity X: @Poetic_Unity
- Find out why London Living Wage is good for business and good for people in Lambeth: London Living Wage for employers | BeLambeth
- Applications to join Lambeth’s Living Wage Local Action Group are now open.
