Free journalism summer school

Children from low-income backgrounds can apply for a free journalism summer school place from today (Wednesday 17 July).

The places are being offered for children aged 5-17 by the Cocoa School of Journalism and Creative Arts in Beckenham, South London, the UK’s first black-owned journalism school.

The Cocoa School of Journalism and Creative Arts

The Cocoa School of Journalism and Creative Arts aims to inspire children of all ages and encourage their interests in all aspects of journalism from news reporting and story writing to podcasting and video editing. It also teaches creative writing and music.

The school launched in April this year by Serlina Boyd, founder of Cocoa Girl, the UK’s first black girls’ magazine.

Cocoa Girl began as a Covid project in 2020 after Serlina and her daughter, Faith, noticed a lack of diversity in the existing publications. The boys’ counterpart, Cocoa Boy, quickly followed, and Cocoa Girl is now distributed across hundreds of schools in the UK.

Why is a journalism school for poorer and under-represented children important?

Journalism has a reputation as an industry dominated by posh white men – a viewpoint backed up by research.

Statistically, black reporters make up just 0.2% of an overwhelmingly white industry (94%).

More than half (51%) of leading journalists attended private school – something you’re less likely to do if you’re black or from a minority ethnic family (38%).

Working-class reporters make up just 11% of newsrooms. A quarter (26%) of black families are from a low-income or working-class background, while black children (47%) are also more likely to be affected by poverty than white children (24%).

As a result, journalists are not a representative reflection of the communities they report on.

What’s on the Cocoa School’s summer programme?

• science coach trips and science day in partnership with the National Trust and content creator Big Manny
• two-week story writing course in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing
• two-day audio recording session at Audible’s London studio, filmed by the BBC

How do I apply?

Places are limited so you’ll need to be quick. To apply, email [email protected].