Oneworld and Storymix among four recipients of Mo Siewcharran grants

Oneworld is one of four organisations to be awarded grants from the Mo Siewcharran fund in its latest round, the second time the independent publisher has received one of the grants.

The fund was set up in 2018 in memory of former Nielsen BookData director Mo Siewcharran, who died in 2017 aged 59. It is administered by the social enterprise Creative Access and supports internships for groups underrepresented in the creative industries.

Oneworld publisher and founder Juliet Mabey said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Creative Access once again. They have made, and are continuing to make, such an important contribution to the campaign to increase diversity and inclusivity in the creative industries. 

“We are especially grateful to the Mo Siewcharran Fund for its financial support in this work, which is facilitating publishers in their efforts to transform our industry so that it more truly represents the readers we serve.”

Inclusive children’s fiction studio Storymix, charity the Poetry Society and Worcester-based Vamos Theatre have also received grants.

On receiving a grant, Judith Palmer, director at the Poetry Society, said: “With the support of the Mo Siewcharran Fund, the Poetry Society is delighted to be able to work with Creative Access to offer a new dedicated publishing and participation trainee. The Poetry Society has a long history of working with young poets to transform their confidence and creative skills, and of widening access to poetry. We’re excited by the new opportunity this presents to make positive change to strengthen and diversify the arts sector workforce.”

Executive producer at Vamos, Claire Morton, said the grant would enable the theatre to offer an internship within its learning and participation department to a young person from an underrepresented community, while Jasmine Richards, founder of Storymix said: "The Mo Siewcharran grant from Creative Access will give us a much-needed intern to support our ever-growing book list and an opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise with a BME professional at the start of what we hope will be a long career in publishing.”

Speaking on the fund’s impact and the latest round of recipients, John Seaton, Siewcharran’s husband, said:  “In its fourth year the Mo Siewcharran Fund continues to do its bit to make workforces in the arts more ethnically diverse, representative and fairer. It is thrilling to be associated with four such vibrant and en rapport companies as these. I am sure the interns will all have a wonderful and beneficial experience and will be supported via Creative Access to thrive in their careers.”

The next round of funding is now available and closes on 11th November. Organisations interested are invited to email lucy@creativeaccess.org.uk to express interest.