In the meantime, see below for a brief response to your 3 focusing questions.

1. How have you been involved in the festival?

As the CEO of YPAS, I’ve had the privilege of supporting and attending the NOW Festival for most of its ten incredible years. YPAS is passionate about providing children and young people with a platform to share their voices, and the NOW Festival aligns perfectly with our ethos. Each year, we have proudly partnered with the festival to encourage participation, promote awareness, and celebrate the creativity and resilience of children and young people, as they promote the destigmatisation and normalisation of mental health and emotional wellbeing.

2. How has the NOW Festival impacted either your work or you personally?

The NOW Festival has been an invaluable influence on YPAS and me personally. Professionally, it has been a space where we have gained deep insights into the lived experiences of children and young people and year-on-year it so refreshing to see the level of support the schools provide to CYP and the promotion of mental health as an issue and their contribution to the Festival.  The festival’s themes and performances have inspired us to adapt and refine our services, ensuring they remain relevant and impactful. Personally, witnessing the courage, talent, and honesty of the performing children and young people year after year has been profoundly moving. It’s a reminder of the importance of listening to and amplifying youth voices, which is at the heart of everything we do at YPAS.

3. Please share one memory that sticks out.

A standout memory for me apart from every single performance that I have had the pleasure of watching was the young poet and the lyrics used within poetry and the impact / significance to mental health. I found this quite overwhelmingly emotional. Every school that coordinated and