Inclusive Minds: Is everybody in?

Inclusive Minds launch crowdfunding campaign to develop groundbreaking resource for book world

This World Book Day, Inclusive Minds urges everyone to help support real change and ensure authentic inclusion in children’s books.
An innovative crowdfunding project will give a voice to children and young people – the people who know most about what they want to see represented in books and how. It will enable them to share valuable experience with those who would like help ensuring authenticity.

The unique resource
Where real inclusion in books is concerned, thorough research is vital. Inclusive Minds will develop an extensive network of Ambassadors for Inclusion. These are young people of all ages with real experience of marginalisation who can share their unique expertise (covering all facets of diversity) with the book world.

Authors, illustrators and publishers will be able to contact Inclusive Minds with ideas, questions or manuscripts that they wish to discuss with relevant young people. These opportunities will be shared with the network and connections established. Ambassadors may also be available to speak at events and in response to news stories.

Opportunity for young people This groundbreaking project will offer many benefits to those who join the network of ambassadors. It will empower young people, giving them a powerful role and a real voice in changing the face of children's books. The opportunity will also represent valuable work experience that may lead to references and further work.

A successful pilot has proven the value of such a resource.

Robin Stevens, one of the authors who has already successfully used the pilot project, welcomed the news:

'It's important to research every aspect of your book, but sometimes research is no substitute for experience. I am so grateful to Inclusive Minds for putting me in touch with young readers from a British Hindu background, who helped me ensure that the portrayal of my detective George was not only accurate, but rang true.'

The goal

£4,000 will fund Inclusive Minds in expanding the pilot project by recruiting young people (up to the age of 30) from an extremely diverse range of backgrounds and cover the administration and promotion of the network for two years. The funding will enable the basic network service to be free of charge, but should relationships develop or lead to more official consultation or sensitivity reading, the network user and ambassador would be expected to introduce and agree fees.

How and why to be a part of the project
Inclusive Minds urge everyone who believes in the need for inclusion and equality in books to support the campaign on Indiegogo. Contributors have access to an exciting menu of ‘perks’ in return for their donations big and small. Perks range from high fives and thank you messages to character names and original book artwork. Absolutely anyone can contribute, giving whatever they can. Even £5 will help towards realisation of the project. Anyone who might be willing to donate a perk, is also encouraged to contact Inclusive Minds.

By all of us coming together in this way, Inclusive Minds is confident we will create a unique resource that can truly help change the face of children’s books.

To help Inclusive Minds realise the project (or just to find out more), visit https://igg.me/at/youngambassadors.




Inclusive Minds is the collective for all those interested in children’s books and diversity. www.inclusiveminds.com

Inclusive Minds supports the children’s book world, working closely with writers, illustrators, publishers and families to ensure children’s books reflect the diverse society in which we live. Inclusive Minds believes books need to be aware of diversity in all its forms, including issues relating to culture, gender, disability, age, sexual identity, family structure and socio-economic background.
Crowdfunding is the practice of realising a project by raising contributions from a large number of people in return for perks. Inclusive Minds invites people, through donations large or small, to join them in achieving something very special.

Indiegogo is an international crowdfunding website founded in 2008, a Launchpad for entrepreneurial ideas. The Indiegogo mission is to empower people to unite around ideas