Brought up in Manchester she struggled with both depression and an eating disorder and is very vocal about what she has been through and how hard it was to get through school and six form but had the most amazing family and friends around her. Knowing she needed to harness her creativity and use it for the good she looked online for a poetry organisation in or around Manchester which, as she told me, found it hard to find… then she came upon ‘Young Identity’ Manchester. They are a collective combined charity that develop young aspiring creatives, writers and performers aged 13-25 through workshops all across Greater Manchester.

Young Identity (affectionately known as ‘YI’) began as a voluntary youth-arts performance project founded by director, Shirley May and Ali Gadema in 2006. Young Identity was hosted by the Manchester-based charity Commonword before becoming its own charity. They believe in the transformative power of the arts in young peoples’ lives. Their mission, to develop literacy, critical thinking and active citizenship for young people, through experimenting with the combined arts. A dynamic and innovative organisation that nurtures the talent of tomorrow. Their mission is to empower those who are at risk of being excellent to fulfil their artistic potential.

Run by Shirley May (Artistic Director) who has worked for 18 years to promote a culture around performance poetry to make it "cool" and happening by mentoring and supporting new writers in schools and community groups. Shirley and her team of young writers and mentors believe that the voice of young people in writing is as valid as adult writers. She seeks to free "de inna voice.” She's a motivational speaker and through her work she tries to inspire, challenge and give tailored advice to groups and individuals especially around creating personal goals and looking at ways to achieve them by signposting them to groups and organisation with training and development at their heart.

Through Young Identity Esther had a safe space, which was so important to her at that time. How important is that for the next generation especially if they feel a little different, a little off the path. Shirley and all the facilitators taught her to capture an audience through her spoken word. A lot of the facilitators have come up through YI and as this organisation is growing and growing, their name is being spoken now across Europe now! Workshops in poets, short story writing and performance are there for any young creative.

We love how Esther explains how much of a safe space this organisation is for younger people who might not know where they fit, might not understand their gender identity or who prefer not to confirm to a gender identity or who might be struggling how they navigate with their sexual identity.

The depression in younger adults is rife and they need more and more places like this to show them direction. It’s a very family based space too, a dynasty, families get involved which is so important. We all need to find a tribe, connection with others, expressing yourself through the writing and having a safe space to do that!

Esther was 17 when she started spoken word, she’s 25 now and she is flying. She has taken part in ‘slams’ poetry competitions around Manchester and beyond.

For a 25 year old she has such an old head on her shoulders and such experience in life. As I interviewed her so many words resinated. One thing she said which stood out was in western society we all feel we need a purpose to be valued but actually why can’t we just be who we are. She doesn’t want to be known as the spoken word for depression or eating disorders. She wants to be eclectic in her words. In the future she has said she might get a bit more political, as she talked about possibly going into politics it will inevitably shape what direction her poetry goes in. Esther wants to use it as a platform to spread awareness and really wants it to be a career whether thats in television, creating workshops herself or/and mentoring young people. For now she is in her last year at Salford University study

As I interviewed Esther last week I found out that the BBC had been in touch to perform her spoken word through Young Identity with her friend @SAF_S2E at the TeamGB homecoming ceremony at Wembley!

Esther performing at the Team GB homecoming on BBC 1

You can find Esther on instagram @estie_poet and @youngidentitymcr

She is also one of 12 young poets from Words First (a scheme aimed at finding the best emerging spoken word talent in the UK) and USE WORDS FIRST, a brilliant anthology, USE WORDS FIRST brings together eclectic styles and people all exploring humanity in their own unique ways.

Pick up your copy of USE WORDS FIRST from www.ownit.london/shop