Meet Charley: Stockport care leaver whose journey from the care system led her to creativity and community – now, with the help of entrepreneur Simon Squibb and a team of mentors, she’s raising funds to create The Culture Lab.
Few young people have a tougher start in life than Charley Louise Beaumont. Growing up in the care system, she moved from one care home to another and never truly had a place she could call home.
Without stability or support, Charley began developing difficult coping habits, smoking weed and drinking most days.
But everything changed when she met Ben, founder of Drywave and the Hero’s Journey programme, and her life began to take a positive turn – from chaos to creativity and purpose.
Such was the impact of the programme that Charley is now on a mission to raise funds to create a safe space for young people in Stockport who have been failed by the system.
She’s already gained investment from one of the UK’s most recognisable entrepreneurs, Simon Squibb.
“Simon Squibb, give us a quid.” Charley’s TikTok videos regularly gain big views. From creating her own music to inspiring people to go on their own journey, she’s amassed thousands of followers and views.
When social media entrepreneur Simon Squibb called for people to share their ideas for a business, Charley was quick to respond with her idea of creating an event to kick-start building the perfect safe space for young people.
Winning investment from Simon and set to feature as one of his Doorbell of Dreams series, that seed capital of £500 is being used to host an event in Stockport at the Masonic Hall on 8 April.
The evening will include a three-course meal and an immersive ‘Hero’s Journey’ experience designed by creative studio Visual Architects, transforming the venue to take guests through the emotional journey many young people face.
The aim is to bring together business leaders from Stockport and across the region to help raise funds to create The Culture Lab. Businesses attending the evening will also have opportunities to support the project directly, from sponsoring rooms and equipment within The Culture Lab to contributing skills, materials and mentoring.
The Culture Lab will be a physical space for Charley and the Drywave team to inspire the next generation of young people who are in need of positive mentors, hope and stability.
For the past three years, the Drywave team have been running programmes for young people across Stockport, renting different community spaces to deliver courses and mentoring.
Each year they support around 120 young people, helping them build confidence, creativity and direction. In fact, Charley herself was part of the very first programme.
But like many of the young people they support, the team are still searching for a permanent space they can truly call home – which is why The Culture Lab is so important.
Ben said:
“They say it takes a village to raise a child. Unfortunately, we’ve been closing the village doors to young people, and they have no safe space to go. That’s why Stockport needs The Culture Lab.”
On the night, Charley hopes business leaders will see the potential in the cause and invest their time and money into helping to create the space — from a DIY SOS-style fit-out of the building to sponsoring rooms and equipment for young people to use.
Charley said:
“This isn’t something we can do alone. It’s going to take a lot of money, a lot of time and a lot of effort, but the impact it will have on Stockport is huge.
Young people like me can end up as lost souls. Influences can come into their lives at a time when they’re most vulnerable, and it can have harrowing consequences.
These people don’t want to be on the high street causing trouble — they just haven’t found the right place to belong. That’s what, with the help of Stockport, we’ll be able to create.
Hopefully The Culture Lab can be just that — a place to come together: a gym, a recording studio, creative workshops and a place to study and work. A place for young people to find their belonging and be inspired to get more from life.”
To gain tickets to the event visit: https://fixr.co/event/the-
