You Make It | Empower young + working class women

by You Make It in London, Greater London, United Kingdom

Total raised £3,088

 
Gift Aid
+ est. £529.75
£50,000 target 33 days left
6% 48 supporters
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 26th May 2025 at 10:30am

YMI needs urgent support to keep transforming the life chances of Black and Brown women so they can thrive personally and professionally.

by You Make It in London, Greater London, United Kingdom

If you're a young working-class Black or Brown woman in the UK, you are much less likely to get access to opportunities that others take for granted to get ahead in life.

You Make It is a race and class inclusion movement for young, working-class women. We elevate the voices, visibility, skills, and ambitions of the women we work with so that they stand a fairer chance of making it in life personally and professionally.

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Sada Cole, a You Make It graduate and sessional support worker, is now celebrating 10 years of running her own business. She takes great pride in witnessing the transformation of women who go through the programme.

"There’s something about this programme—coming out the other side with a sense of 'I can, I will, and I won’t stop until I get there.' You develop this fierceness, this hunger for life."

Our founding CEO, Asma Shah, set up You Make It from her kitchen table because she had experienced her journey of overcoming barriers to achieve and felt compelled to help others do the same. 

Through our transformative programmes, our community of women begin to thrive in the social, cultural, and economic life of their city. 

With your support, we will be able to help bridge gaps in funding to continue delivery of our 4-month-long programmes for a further 150 women.

We’ve already helped transform the life chances of over 600 women to date through our award-winning empowerment programmes that provide fully funded access to:

  • Creative and practical workshops led by experts
  • Exclusive guest talks and Q+As, past speakers have included Riz Ahmed, Renni Eddo-Lodge and Annie Mac!
  • Mentoring with trained professionals, previously recruited from the likes of Mixcloud, SixtyFour Music and Depop
  • Online therapy with our accredited therapists
  • Wellbeing sessions including yoga, sauna sessions, boxing sessions, sports days, dance club, cooking classes and running club
  • Short work placements to help build your CV, providers amongst others have included Olivia von Halle, Publicis Sapient and Royal Opera House

We also provide a range of opportunities to support the growth of progressive employers who want to build fair and racially inclusive workforces through:

  • Mentoring Programme Employers can sponsor staff to receive expert YMI mentoring training, which develops transferable leadership skills and is then also put into practice as we match each mentor with a woman taking part in our programmes across 16 weeks. 
  • Work Placement Partnerships Employers can provide work experience placements to our young women, strengthening and diversifying their workforce.
  • You Change It Our anti-racism allyship course materials guide employers through a learning process to deepen their understanding of the origins and pervasiveness of racism in the UK. The course equips them with the tools to promote better representation, inclusion and progression for racially minoritised talent in the workplace.
  • Sponsorship Opportunities We offer sponsorship opportunities to employers who want to support our empowerment programmes. Employers have the chance to contribute to our social impact outcomes for young women which across almost 13 years have been consistently STRONG!

To continue our movement, we need you to join us, and support our crowdfunder. Your donation will directly help 150 women access mentorship, training, and the support systems necessary to transform their lives.

Together, we can keep this movement alive. Donate today and make a difference.

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Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£10 or more

1 of 10 claimed

You Make It Black Tote Bag

Black tote bag with YMI logo. Rare piece as minimal units were printed.

£18 or more

0 of 5 claimed

Whitechapel Gallery-Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker

Following acclaimed presentations at both Spike Island (Bristol) and Nottingham Contemporary (Nottingham), Whitechapel Gallery brings this major survey exhibition of the late British multi-media artist Donald Rodney (b.1961, West Bromwich; d.1998, London) to London.

£20 or more

2 of 8 claimed

Raise Snacks- nutritious & delicious snacks

At the core of RAISE are nuts & seeds - the original superfood - full of protein, fibre and antioxidants, they get your body and mind working in order. It’s Edible Elevation from a natural source. London founded.

£20 or more

8 of 50 claimed

One green bottle. 500ml

500ml stainless steel water bottle

£20 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Art play giftcard

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, Artplay has something for everyone to unleash their creativity! Join hundreds of weekly visitors who love to unwind and paint at their leisure expressing their artistic passion. £20.00 gift card.

£26 or more

0 of 2 claimed

Grubby- plant based recipe kit

Plant-based recipe kit for 2-3 people! Get a one-off box with everything you need to cook two nutritious, delicious meals.

£30 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Botivo- Botanical Aperitivo (Non alcoholic)

A deeply refreshing bittersweet aperitivo bursting with herbal and citrus notes. Hand blended in small batches on Lannock Farm, Botivo takes over 1 year to make from start to finish using only real ingredients. Come with socks and

£40 or more

0 of 1 claimed

En Root- Plant-based powered goodness

Blending Indian-rooted spices with South London’s vibrant culinary scene, this plant-based Indian fusion cuisine nourishes the mind, body, and soul while celebrating the fun and adventurous side of plant power. Wholesome, hearty, and packed with flavor! Enjoy a £40 gift voucher to indulge at their London locations.

£50 or more

0 of 2 claimed

Dialled In- ticket for 2

Dialled In is driven to inspire South Asian expression. As an artist-led initiative, they create spaces and opportunities for SA artists to showcase talents, collaborate, and push creative boundaries. 2 tickets to any future Dialled In events of your choice.

£50 or more

0 of 2 claimed

Hackney Empire

2 x tickets to Romeo & Juliet Saturday 26th April, 2pm)

£75 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Skin and Sanctuary- nutrition consultation

A consultation with our Registered Nutritionist, Swati Madan. This is good for those looking to be healthier

£79 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Astrology Reading

A personalised copy of your natal chart, one hour reading via Teams and a recording to play back in the future.

£180 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Here at Outernet London

Hidden four stories under the centre of London, a brand new live events space, part of London’s new Outernet district. They are a custom-designed blank canvas space crafted to host creative and cultural events from end to end of the live events spectrum. £50.00 bar tab & guest list for two.

£250 or more

0 of 3 claimed

SHED- 1 month Desk space

SHED is a desk space in the heart of Hackney. The home for the creative freelancer we offer memberships to suit everyone. This is a desk space for 1 month month in an extremely friendly co-working space based in Haggerston

£250 or more

4 x 1hr life coaching session with certified coach

You will be coached by Dr. Taraneh Khalafpour. Recently retired after working as a doctor for 37 years. The form of coaching she provides is about having helpful conversations that guide people to reach their own personal or work-related goals.

£360 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Clay workshop (1.5 hours)

Create your own gargoyle with clay, glitter, and other wondrous little things! Take a breather with some absurd, creative fun. You’ll craft a weird little one to take home, dry, and pin on your front door to spook the neighbors. Hosted at Whitechapel Gallery during core hours (Mon-Thurs), this session is for up to 8 people—perfect for a team social! You can then enjoy the exhibition at the gallery.

£750 or more

0 of 4 claimed

You Make It Mentoring

Our four-month mentorship programme is more than just a way to support someone else—it’s a journey of growth for you too. Join our movement by becoming a mentor in our upcoming programmes

£1,000 or more

Ben sage Photography

London raised professional photographer Ben has been specialising in interiors and architecture for over 10 years. Ben’s passion for photography and capturing design is what gets him up in the morning. This will be for a half-day (up to 4hrs) shoot and cover all equipment and editing. He's happy to do portraits, but if there is a more commercial need, he would be happy to do that (product/interiors/lifestyle).

£1,200 or more

0 of 1 claimed

1 week stay on Barge in Hackney Wick

Experience Hackney's vibrant spirit from a comfortable houseboat. Located in Hackney Wick- a very trendy area of London, combining both nature and London's best bits.

£15 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Sauna session (Community sauna baths)

London's not-for-profit sauna and plunge offering an authentic and affordable experience. This is a pass for 1 person at peak hours

£59 or more

2 of 2 claimed

Rich Mix- PLUS Annual membership

Rich Mix membership offers you a year of fantastic discounts on cinema and live event tickets, money off hot food, drink & snacks at our bars, exclusive offers and event invitations – while also supporting emerging artists and helping our work in the local community.

£100 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Chai Maker

Chai is drunk by over a billion people around the world. Yet it is still brewed in a humble pot. It often boils over and is difficult to clean. With the Loka Chai Maker, making authentic chai at home has never been this easy; or this good. The design features a patent pending ‘chai fountain' which eliminates the boil over and enhances brewing, an integrated strainer, and allows drip-free pouring from any direction.

£130 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Barista Masterclass

Dive into the world of specialty coffee with a hands-on workshop, designed to take your coffee skills to the next level. Whether you're a coffee enthusiast or just curious about the process, this class will teach you how to brew and create stunning latte art like a pro. For two people.

£180 or more

1 of 1 claimed

3 x 1hr life coaching session with certified coach

Coaching is non-advisory and non-judgmental—you have the answers, and your coach helps uncover them. You're in the driver’s seat, with your coach guiding through insightful questions. Sessions explore beliefs, values, and goals, leading to fresh perspectives and real change. As a certified life coach, Katy hels you gain clarity, identify barriers, and develop lasting solutions for personal and professional growth.

£270 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Skin and Sanctuary

Platinum Hydrafacial®/ Skin Analysis and Consultation. Experience the ultimate in skincare with the Hydrafacial® Platinum. Start with lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and lift contours, followed by a gentle peel, pain-free extractions, and targeted boosters. Finish with LED therapy and nourishing hydration for your best skin ever.

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