This Black History Month, we explore how City & Guilds Foundation funding is helping Voyage create opportunities for young people to discover their heritage, develop their confidence and explore new career pathways.
For many young people, understanding their heritage is about more than discovering the past. It can be a way to build confidence, find their voice and begin to imagine new possibilities for the future.
At Voyage, a Hackney-based organisation supporting young people, heritage has become an increasingly important part of that journey. What began with young people wanting to see their communities’ stories better represented has developed into a growing programme of work connecting generations, celebrating cultural contributions and opening doors into careers that many young people had never previously considered.
With support from the City & Guilds Foundation, Voyage is able to strengthen its work with young people, build organisational capacity and explore opportunities that can create lasting impact.
Giving young people a voice in history
Voyage’s growing focus on heritage was driven by the young people themselves. Many of the African and Caribbean young people working with the organisation felt that their histories and the contributions of their communities were not sufficiently represented in public records.
This led to the creation of a book capturing the experiences of Caribbean elders in Hackney. Developed over several years, the publication brings together personal stories from members of the Windrush generation. The book was officially archived in summer 2026, helping preserve these important experiences for future generations.
For Voyage, the project demonstrated the value of bringing young people and older generations together, creating opportunities to learn, listen and develop a better understanding of the communities that have shaped the places they call home.
From heritage to new horizons
Voyage’s heritage work has also created opportunities for young people to engage directly with cultural institutions.
Working with the Museum of the Home in Hackney and Hackney’s Archive Team, young people researched the history and significance of public statues, explored different perspectives and contributed ideas to discussions about how the museum could better tell the stories connected to its collections and history.
Around 15 young people were involved in the research, which developed into discussions with museum professionals and further engagement with architects exploring potential changes to the presentation of a historic statue.
The experience demonstrated that young people’s ideas and perspectives could be taken seriously by established institutions. It also introduced them to a world of careers they might never have known existed.
As Paul Anderson MBE, CEO of Voyage explains:
“Museums, libraries and archives are just generally not even understood as a job … so many of our kids now understand that that’s actually a viable pathway.”
Through their involvement, young people have met archivists, historians, curators and other heritage professionals, discovering opportunities in sectors they may never previously have considered. These connections are already translating into tangible outcomes.
Voyage has seen young people secure employment at the Museum of the Home, while another participant – Ekponwen, known as Eki – completed a year-long internship at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Another inspiring example is Donata, a Voyage graduate who has gone on to work at the V&A and now serves as a Voyage trustee, helping inspire the next generation.
These experiences show how heritage can become a gateway to new skills, professional networks and future employment.
The power of experience
For Voyage, the approach is about providing experiences that help young people develop confidence, articulate their achievements and stand out when pursuing further education or employment.
As Paul explained, young people can have academic qualifications, but the experiences they gain through Voyage often give them something distinctive to talk about in interviews.
“Whether researching history, engaging with professionals or contributing to community projects, they develop stories of their own achievements that demonstrate initiative, curiosity and the ability to make a difference. These experiences can also inspire young people to stay involved with Voyage and, in time, return to support others.”
How investment is making a difference
The City & Guilds Foundation’s support is helping Voyage build on this approach. Through its funding of Voyage’s HYPE work, the Foundation is contributing to the organisation’s wider capacity to engage young people, amplify their voices and help them access pathways into education and employment.
Crucially, the flexible nature of the funding gives Voyage room to respond to young people’s interests and develop opportunities that might not fit neatly within a single project.
Paul highlighted the importance of this flexibility, explaining that the Foundation’s investment helps the organisation grow and explore longer-term funding for its heritage work. This support is particularly valuable for an organisation whose projects often develop organically from young people’s ideas.
By investing in Voyage’s capacity, the Foundation is helping create the conditions for new ideas, partnerships and opportunities to flourish.
It’s an approach that aligns closely with the Foundation’s commitment to breaking down barriers and helping people develop the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to succeed.
Building on the past to shape the future
Voyage’s heritage journey continues to grow. The organisation is developing further work exploring the contributions of the sons and daughters of the Windrush generation to Hackney’s cultural life, including music, carnival and the area’s once-thriving nightlife.
It has also secured support for a new project – What stories do our streets reveal, and whose stories have they forgotten? – exploring the stories behind local street names and the histories of the communities who have shaped the neighbourhood.
These projects will provide further opportunities for young people to develop research, storytelling and creative skills while extending their understanding of local heritage. By giving young people opportunities to explore their heritage, share their perspectives and engage with professionals, the organisation is helping them discover not just where they come from, but where they could go.
