Founded in 2016, RISE runs creative skills, development projects, produces inspirational live events and offers mentorship, work experience, employment and networking opportunities.

After long careers working with young people, Mahla and Helen knew the power, brilliance and insight that so many young people hold - too often ignored by the systems around them.
While working at a community radio station in London, they met interns who weren’t just passionate about music, they were hungry to explore activism, creativity and change.

Where there’s music, there’s politics and soon, Mahla and Helen were taking this group to their first protests. All they needed was someone to put cameras and microphones in their hands and that’s when RISE was born.
So what began as an exercise in trusting young people to tell their own stories, is now a youth-led, grassroots movement creating media, events, consultancy and paid opportunities for marginalised young people across diverse areas.

“Sometimes it’s not about taking a seat at the table, it’s about building our own table” - Mahla
Now Mahla and Helen have an ever growing team of young creatives to work alongside.

Rise creates opportunities that connect marginalised young people to their inner strength, worth and passion and to fight for pathways into society that uphold the fact that young people matter.
Meet the RISE collective team below...

Meet the Team

Founded in 2016, RISE runs creative skills, development projects, produces inspirational live events and offers mentorship, work experience, employment and networking opportunities.

While working at a community radio station in London, they met interns who weren’t just passionate about music, they were hungry to explore activism, creativity and change.