GIRL GRIND UK
THE GRIND DONT STOP!
YOUR ISH IS OUR MISH
STAY GRINDING!
OUR JOURNEY 1.1
2020. The world was on pause, but we refused to stand still. In the heart of a global pandemic, when uncertainty loomed and opportunities vanished, Girl Grind UK was born. Not out of convenience, but out of necessity. We saw a creative industry that left too many behind, women, racially marginalised artists, and those grinding to be seen, heard, and valued. So, we stepped up. Because if no one was making space for us, we were going to create it ourselves. From day one, it was all grind, no shortcuts. Six relentless months of fundraising, writing grant applications, knocking on doors, and refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer. Our founder, Namywa, had already spent a decade fighting for her place in the music industry, navigating racial, gender, and regional barriers that kept too many voices silenced. Girl Grind UK wasn’t just an idea, it was a movement built on lived experience, resilience, and an unshakable commitment to change.
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And we moved fast. Within a year, we had raised £45,000 in investment, launching pilot projects that breathed life into communities across Ward End, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, and Birmingham. We weren’t just here to make noise, we were here to change the sound of the industry itself.
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In just 12 months, we:
✅ Launched three groundbreaking projects
✅ Impacted 75 participants
✅ Hired our first two staff members
✅ Became a rising force in the West Midlands creative landscape
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Then, the industry started to take notice. Our flagship program, ‘She Don Did It’, didn’t just make waves, it made history. What started as a vision turned into an award-winning music program, securing £30,000 from Youth Music Charity. It was a defining moment, not just for us, but for every woman and girl fighting for space in the industry. This wasn’t just a win. It was proof that our work is essential. From a pandemic-born dream to a national force for change, Girl Grind UK is just getting started. Our journey is far from over, we are building a future where creativity knows no limits, and every artist, entrepreneur, and innovator has a stage to stand on.
OUR JOURNEY 1.2
2022 was the year we didn’t just grow, we exploded. With investment from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, our reach skyrocketed, catapulting us from a steadfast 10,000-strong online audience to a global stage. No longer just a regional force, we became an essential part of the Commonwealth Games’ regional plans and opening ceremony, our work broadcast to over a billion people worldwide. The world was watching, and we were ready.
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But our biggest wins weren’t just on stage, they were happening behind the scenes. We scaled up, built stronger, and laid the foundations for lasting impact. We transitioned from the NatWest Business Program into our own creative hub at Assay Studios. Our team expanded, adding three new staff members to push our mission forward.
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Between 2022 and 2023, we:
✅ Engaged 150+ participants annually through transformative programs
✅ Contracted 33 freelancers, fueling local creative employment
✅ Partnered with 15+ industry leaders, including B:Music and Symphony Hall
✅ Turned our vision into a movement—one that could no longer be ignored
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Five Years In: A Movement, Not Just an Organisation
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Now, as we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we look back not just with pride, but with fire in our hearts—because we are only just getting started.
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🔹 We have raised nearly £500,000 in funding, securing the future of our mission.
🔹 We have built a solid business plan and a robust Theory of Change, ensuring long-term sustainability.
🔹 We have cemented our place as a leading cultural force in the West Midlands music scene.
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And now, our voice is being heard at the highest levels.
OUR JOURNEY 1.3
Our founder, Namywa, has gone from breaking barriers in the industry to shaping its future, sitting on the Culture Central board, representing our mission at the House of Lords, and speaking alongside leaders like Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy at the 2025 regional Labour Party Conference. We are not just part of the conversation, we are leading it. The movement is here, the vision is clear, and the future is ours to build.
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The impact we’ve created is undeniable, a testament to the power of persistence, passion, and purpose.
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We have:
✅ Delivered 15 transformative projects, each one breaking barriers and creating new opportunities.
✅ Engaged over 300 participants, empowering them with the skills, confidence, and networks to thrive.
✅ Built a powerhouse of 35+ partnerships, collaborating with industry leaders who share our vision.
✅ Secured funding from 12+ major backers, including the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Youth Music Charity, proving that our work is essential, urgent, and deserving of investment.
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And we’re far from done. Right now, we are developing FIVE—a landmark report documenting our five-year journey, the lessons we’ve learned, and the bold roadmap we’re laying down for the next five years leading up to 2030.
A Movement Rooted in Birmingham, Designed for the World.
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Our roots are firmly planted in Birmingham and the West Midlands, but our vision is global. We are not just shaping a more inclusive music industry, we are building a future where marginalised voices are celebrated, elevated, and given the power to lead. We don’t just run programs, we build movements. Our youth voice is strong, our commitment to lifelong development is embedded in everything we do, and our participants don’t just engage, they evolve into the next generation of creatives, leaders, and changemakers.
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We are Girl Grind UK.
We are Bold. Courageous. Free. Honest.
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And we are just getting started.