Why
TYC Exists
TYC exists because too many young people fall through the gaps.
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Not because they lack talent -
but because traditional systems don’t always see them, hear them, or make space for who they are.
We exist to change that.
Where It Began
TYC was founded by someone who grew up without access to creative opportunities outside of school.
Arts education, encouragement, and belonging came not through money or privilege, but through a teacher who noticed potential, offered trust, and opened doors. That act of being seen changed everything.
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Years later, while teaching drama in schools, the same pattern appeared again - young people who didn’t fit neatly elsewhere, but thrived when given ownership, voice and creative freedom.
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TYC was born from those moments.
Not as a traditional drama school,
but as a space where young people could create, not just participate.
What We Learned Early on
From the very beginning, young people shaped TYC.
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They didn’t just attend sessions, they:
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Helped define the ethos
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Made creative decisions
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Designed uniforms and identity
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Took ownership of their work and their space​
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Those first young creatives went on to professional careers in the arts, education and performance. More importantly, they left with confidence, self-knowledge and a sense of belonging, many later understanding themselves through the lens of neurodiversity.
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That early experience taught us something vital:
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When young people are trusted and given the means to create, they gain much more than arts access.
What That Means Today
Today, TYC exists to ensure that:
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Creativity is accessible, not exclusive
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Young people are collaborators, not recipients
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Leadership is something you grow into, not age into
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Difference is valued, not corrected
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We work with children and young people who may not always feel at home elsewhere and we build spaces where they can belong, contribute and lead in ways that feel right for them.
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This is why youth voice isn’t an add-on at TYC.
It’s the foundation.
Youth-Led, By Responsibility
TYC doesn’t exist for young people, it exists with them.
Young people shape our programmes, inform decisions, take on leadership roles and help guide the organisation’s direction through structures such as our Youth Board.
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This isn’t symbolic.
It’s practical, intentional and ongoing.
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Because we believe the future of creative work should be shaped by the people growing into it.
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→ Meet our Youth Board
→ Learn more About TYC
→ Meet the Team