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Our Story

The Cultural Connection began as an urgent response to the deep, systemic inequalities our founders encountered on the frontlines of mental health, youth work, and the criminal justice system. Day after day, they saw how young people and vulnerable adults - particularly from Black and racially minoritised backgrounds - were left behind by systems that didn’t understand or serve them. What couldn’t be changed from within, they set out to change from the outside.

Our organisation was created to bridge the growing disconnect between communities and institutions like mental health services, education, and the justice system. We exist to rebuild trust, restore communication, and create culturally safe spaces where people can be seen, heard, and supported without stigma.

We act as a vital link - translating between systems and communities, advocating for those whose voices have been marginalised, and co-creating better pathways to opportunity. Rooted in lived experience and guided by evidence, our work empowers people to take control of their futures while informing change at a systemic level.

Since launching in 2019, we’ve engaged over 100 young people and vulnerable adults through two key programmes:

• Steps2Success, a holistic employability and mental health empowerment initiative designed for those furthest from education or work.

• Staged Realities, our culturally adapted Forum Theatre project based on Augusto Boal’s model, which encourages participants to become moral agents in scenarios that reflect real-life challenges they face.

Both programmes offer safe, empowering spaces where individuals reflect, grow, and act - often for the first time on their own terms.

The Cultural Connection delivers impact through three interconnected pillars:

• Mental Health Empowerment and Employability, supporting those furthest from the system to access education, training, or work.

• Community Advocacy and Training, building confidence and knowledge to navigate and challenge mental health inequalities.

• Research and Systemic Change, turning lived experience into action that shapes policy and practice.

We believe that sustainable change starts with connection - between people, communities, and the institutions that shape their lives. Our work is about more than services: it’s about transforming systems, amplifying unheard voices, and building a future where equity isn’t the exception - it’s the norm.

Our Vision, Mission and Values

OUR VISION

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We envision a transformed landscape across mental health, education, and criminal justice systems - where advocacy, support, and empowerment bridge the gaps that too often exclude or harm marginalised individuals. Our goal is to ensure that every person, especially those at risk of being failed by these systems, receives the justice, care, and opportunities they deserve.

OUR MISSION

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Our mission is to ensure that those most marginalised by systemic inequality are not only supported but are positioned as leaders and decision-makers in shaping the systems that affect their lives.

OUR VALUES

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Our values function as guiding principles that shape our actions and decisions:

Collaborative

Collaborative

We believe in working together for greater impact.
Consistent

Consistent

We prioritise reliability and consistency to ensure continuity and trust.
Compassionate

Compassionate

We approach our work with empathy, care and understanding.
Creative

Creative

We innovate and think outside the box to find new solutions for mental health challenges and systemic inequalities.
Committed

Committed

We are dedicated to creating meaningful change and ensuring better life opportunities for those who engage with our services.

Meet The Founders

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Dr Niquita Pilgrim, PhD CPsychol - Strategic Director of Programmes and Partnerships | Chartered Psychologist

I am a Chartered Psychologist with a strong background in developing evidence-based interventions to address systemic disparities across mental health, education, and the criminal justice system. My experience working within specialist mental health services and as an Associate Hospital Manager for the NHS has equipped me with deep expertise in safeguarding, inclusive practice, and trauma-informed care - particularly when working with high-risk children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

At The Cultural Connection, I lead the strategic design of our programmes and partnerships, ensuring our work is grounded in both lived experience and clinical insight. I have supported the development and delivery of impactful interventions such as Steps2Success and Staged Realities, which have engaged over 100 participants.

Co-founding this organisation was a response to what I witnessed daily: a system unequipped to support those most in need. I’m deeply committed to co-creating change that centres fairness, equity, and the voice of the communities we serve.

Gabriel Ayo - Youth & Community Engagement Lead | Business Mentor

I bring a unique blend of community engagement, business strategy, and youth development to The Cultural Connection. My background includes co-owning a pupil referral unit in Croydon, where I supported young people facing emotional and behavioural challenges to reintegrate into education through mentorship and personalised support.

Alongside my work in social impact, I manage a successful commercial property portfolio of restaurants and event spaces across Birmingham and London. I draw on this business experience to mentor others - particularly marginalised individuals - on financial literacy, sustainable income generation, and enterprise. My focus is on using entrepreneurship as a tool for empowerment and inclusion.

As Co-Founder of The Cultural Connection, I lead on youth engagement and community partnerships. I’m passionate about creating spaces - literal and social - where young people and vulnerable adults feel heard, supported, and equipped to take ownership of their futures.

Gabriel Ayo

Research & Advocacy Hub

At The Cultural Connection, our research and advocacy hub drives systemic change by uncovering and addressing the root causes of inequalities in mental health and allied sectors, such as the criminal justice system. Collaborating with Lived Experience Experts, Practitioners, Academics, and the Black Health and Humanities Network, we employ innovative anti-oppressive methodologies to challenge entrenched structures and foster equity. Our work informs policy, influences systemic reform, and empowers communities to hold systems accountable. Key projects like the Steps2Success employability programme and the Breaking the Cycle report reflect our commitment to actionable insights that create real-world impact.

Highlights of Our Work

• Groundbreaking Research: Award-winning work, such as those on anti-Black racism in mental health, have shaped public discourse and institutional reform.
• Advocacy in Action: Collaborations with NHS England and local communities amplify voices often marginalised in systemic decision-making.
• Transformative Impact: Initiatives like our evaluation frameworks ensure lived experiences remain central to our work, bridging research with practical solutions.

If you’re interested in partnering with us or learning more, please get in touch using the enquiry form on our Contact Us page. Together, we can build a more equitable and just society.

Our Clients, Funders and Partners