Who we are

Get Involved

Registered charity no. 1197065

Who we are

Meet our team of change-makers and trailblazers. These are the people behind our purpose.

Deborah Conteh

Programme Coordinator

Deborah Conteh is a Programme Co-ordinator at Untold Creative Training. She is a two time published poet and has participated in the BBC Word First Programme 2022.

Deborah blends her corporate background and love for the creative industry to work on building creative courses for people in prison. Being an advocate for mental health and diversity and inclusion, Deborah also has a depth of knowledge on the significance of these. She has also created a short film based on youth violence from the perspective of a single mothers. She is known for confident, caring and colourful personality. Her favourite song right now is Reason by Cleo Sol... beautiful song!
Comfort Ayankoya

Chief Executive

Comfort joined Untold at the very early stages of Untold in 2022, after a decade of working in the community and education system. She started at Untold as the Development Manager helping to build up the organisation and mapping out the strategic plan.

She has led social impact innovations in London, striving to help young people to overcome barriers and this passion transcends to young people stuck in the justice system.

governance

Emily Thomas

Founder & Trustee

Governor HMP/YOI Isis; recipient of the Civil Service Award for Leadership; former Trustee of the Prisoners’ Education Trust and Shannon Trust.
Roy Sefa-Attakora

Trustee

Chief of Staff for Test and Trace Finance; Recipient of the Duke of Cambridge Scholarship; Former young advisor at the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales; Governor at Addey and Stanhope secondary school.
Huw Gott

Trustee

Co-Founder Hawksmoor restaurants; Non-Executive Director National Theatre Enterprises; Founder Today’s Special
Kieron Tilley

Trustee

Account Director for Guildhall Live Events (Guildhall School of Music & Drama); Co-Founder of the Prison Radio Association, (which launched National Prison Radio in 2009, the world’s first national radio service for prisoners). Awarded Longford Prize 2013.

Frequently
Asked Questions

What is Untold?

Untold is a charitable organisation, working to deliver a creative art industry training programme in prison. Our aim is to give each young person we work with a chance to rewrite their story through engagement in our creative arts programmes. We embed our course in the existing prison education regime and work with our creative partners to provide post release employment, education or training.

What subjects do you teach?

We deliver programmes and courses across the industry. Our partners deliver courses in Acting and Theatre, Music Production and Music Business, and Backstage production arts. Our course offer will continue to grow.

How can I get involved?

We offer our programmes to young people in prison, however we are always on the lookout for creative arts organisations who would like to support us or partner with us. If you would like to get in touch, please use our contact form.

I am...

A Creative organisation.

Wanting to teach the next generation.

Things you
can do

Teach: To deliver our programme we require the support of our creative industry partners. Some of our partners have gone as far to create bespoke programmes that have fit the young men we serve and the logistics of our partner prison, HMP YOI ISIS. If your organisation has any ideas on programmes that could be delivered in prison, please get in touch
Hire: We are also looking for organisations who can offer post release support and opportunities to the young men we serve. If this is something you can provide, please let us know

Frequently
Asked Questions

What’s involved?

We ask that our creative partners attend the prison for initial conversations, developing and planning and then commit to delivering in the prison weekly over a stated period of time.

What impact will we have?

We believe that our programmes will leave a lasting impact on the young men we work with.

The majority of the young men we work with, may not have had the opportunity to engage in the projects and programmes we offer. Your involvement gives them the chance to experience something new, teaching them more about themselves and giving them the chance to make a change in their lives.

Who else is involved?

To name a few of our partners: Brit School, The Young Vic: Taking Part, Notting Hill Academy of Music. Please visit our homepage to see the full list.

Where do I start?

Drop us a message and we will be in touch.

A funder.

Wanting to help us grow.

Things you
can do

Support: We need funding to continue our valuable work in the prison — since we offer our programmes at no cost to the prison, we use funding to support our infrastructure, resources and partnerships. If you'd like to invest to help us grow, please get in touch.
Spread the word: We understand that there are a number of organisations funders can support at any one time, therefore, if we spark your interest but funding is not an option at the moment, please do share our work so others may gain awareness.

Frequently
Asked Questions

What types of investment do you accept?

We are grateful for the support from our funders who have provided both long and short term funding for our work. We have also had generous support from individual donors.

What do you need funding for?

We need funding to continue our valuable work in the prison. We offer our programmes at no cost to the prison and therefore need funding to support our infrastructure, resources and partnerships.

Who are you currently funded by?

We are supported by the generosity of, Backstage Trust, Sheriff and Recorder, Buffini Chao, Youth Music, Garfield Weston and individual donors.

A Volunteer.

Wanting to make a difference.

Things you
can do

Educate: If you’re keen on delivering a training session and you have experience in media, music or design,you may be able to help deliver our sessions. If this sounds good, please get in touch.
Create: If you’re creative and can help with design work, music production or other media production, you may be able to support us with assets we need alongside our course material. If you think you might be able to lend a hand, please get in touch.
Support: If you’re keen to lend a hand, but not sure where you can help, you might still be able to still support the team running untold, if this sounds like you, please get in touch.

Frequently
Asked Questions

How can I get involved?

We have had a lot of interest from people who would like to work with us on a voluntary basis. There are some ways volunteers can support for example, we have had volunteers delivering one of sessions with the young men, Please get in touch to discuss.

Do I need to be DBS checked?

All our long term staff, partners and volunteers are required to undertake a national security vetting process. One off delivery may not necessarily require this, but this is assessed on a case by case basis.