What Kazzum does

Kazzum Arts is a registered UK charity (Charity Number 802941, Company Number 02447000) that uses multidisciplinary creative arts — drama, visual arts, dance, music, storytelling and poetry — to support children and young people affected by trauma and adversity. It operates four core programmes: Apollo (arts for health and wellbeing in NHS hospital wards including Whipps Cross and Royal London Hospital since 2011); Regulation (arts for social inclusion in Alternative Provision schools, currently at Beormund Primary School in Southwark, replacing the Build programme which ran at London East Alternative Provision 2018–2023); Pathways (creative wellbeing, ESOL and advocacy for young asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants, including the Brighter Futures group with Praxis); and Professional Practice (training in trauma-informed approaches for artists, teachers and healthcare staff). Additionally, Kazzum delivers the evidence-based Speech Bubbles drama intervention in Newham schools under licence from London Bubble Theatre Company.

Its underlying methodology is a structured, trauma-informed approach to participatory arts facilitation, developed and refined through Trauma-informed Schools UK (TISUK) training — Co-CEO and Artistic Director Alex Evans is a national TISUK trainer. Delivery is led by a small core staff of five (two Co-CEOs, two Programme Managers, one Communications and Training Coordinator) supported by a network of approximately 20 Associate Artists and 4 Artist Advocates, with outcomes assessed against Project Oracle Standard 1 evidence certification (achieved for the Build programme).

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable grants and commissioned delivery to institutional partners rather than commercial pricing. Named funders include City Bridge Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund, abrdn, Awards for All, Doily Cart Foundation, London Community Foundation, The Equality Trust and Swan Mountain Trust. Programme delivery is commissioned by NHS trusts, schools and refugee organisations; beneficiary access is free via these channels. No direct programme pricing is publicly disclosed, and audited financial figures are not in the public source material. Kazzum is headquartered at Oxford House in Bethnal Green, London, and operates across Greater London with some national reach via the franchised Speech Bubbles programme (9,200 children reached nationally since 2009).

Name

Kazzum

Legal name

Kazzum Arts

Website

https://kazzum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kazzum Arts is a UK registered charity that uses trauma-informed drama, visual arts, dance, music and storytelling to support children and young people affected by trauma and adversity. It delivers programmes in NHS hospitals, alternative provision schools and refugee community settings across London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Support Services (611710), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Trauma-Informed & Resilience-Building Programs (Early Childhood) (EDACAOAD), Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Trauma-informed arts
• Participatory arts programs
• Youth wellbeing programs
• Arts charity services
• Creative therapy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Grants and Commissioning: Kazzum Arts generates revenue through grants from charitable foundations and commissioned programmes from institutional partners. Named funders include Beormund School (Regulation project), City Bridge Trust, Awards for All, Doily Cart Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, abrdn, Big Lottery Fund, Swan Mountain Trust, Queen Mary University, and Arts Council England. The organisation is a registered UK charity (Number 802941, Company Number 02447000) and accepts donations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kazzum Arts uses creativity to enable children and young people impacted by trauma and adversity to feel seen, heard and valued. The charity delivers trauma-informed participatory arts programmes in schools, hospitals, and community settings across London, working with young people who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) including displacement, neglect, abuse, poverty, bereavement, and domestic violence.

Product overview

Kazzum Arts is a UK-based charity offering a portfolio of creative arts programs designed to help children and young people impacted by trauma and adversity. The organization operates four core programs: Apollo (Arts for Health & Wellbeing in hospital settings), Regulation (Arts for Social Inclusion in education settings), Pathways (Arts for Migrancy & Refuge for asylum seekers and refugees), and Professional Practice (training in trauma-informed approaches). Additional offerings include Speech Bubbles (speech and language drama intervention for ages 5-7), and past projects such as Build, The Create Group, and various visual arts installations. The organization also produces resource packs including Apollo Resources. Programs are delivered by a team of skilled artist facilitators in partnership with schools, hospitals, and community settings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 646 children and young people reached through arts activities in 2024-25
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, past and minor.

• Praxis Community ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Over 10-year co-facilitation partnership to co-facilitate Brighter Futures, a group for young activists from refugee, asylum-seeking and undocumented backgrounds. Praxis is Kazzum's longest-standing community partner, supporting both personal expression and advocacy campaigns including 'Our Homes Our Rights'.
• Beormund Primary School (Southwark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKazzum delivers its Regulation programme at Beormund Primary School, a setting for children with social, emotional and mental health needs excluded from mainstream education. Beormund funds the project and provides the physical setting. In 2022, Kazzum transformed two mezzanine spaces into designated reflection and peace areas. This is Kazzum's primary current education partnership.
• London East Alternative Provision (LEAP)pastStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year project (2018–2023) delivering creative workshops to young people excluded from mainstream secondary schooling. LEAP supported students to return to regular schooling or complete Year 11. The project achieved Project Oracle Standard 1 evidence certification.
• Whipps Cross Hospital (Barts Health NHS Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKazzum has delivered the Apollo programme at Whipps Cross Hospital's Acorn Ward since 2011. The hospital provides clinical settings and collaborates with the Home School Teaching Service. Creative residencies include 'Jungle Is Massive!' and 'Christmas in Space!'. The Acorn Ward project is funded by Awards for All, Doily Cart Foundation, and City Bridge Trust.
• Royal London HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2018, Kazzum has delivered Christmas creative workshops at the Royal London Hospital, exploring curriculum themes ('Light') using philosophical inquiry, lantern making, blacklight drawing, window murals, and music.
• SpotlightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in The Heart Project, a two-year creative health programme tackling health inequalities among young people in Tower Hamlets, working alongside Queen Mary University of London.
• Queen Mary University of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and academic partner in The Heart Project. Also previously provided funding for workshops at the Baytree Centre. Supports evaluation and evidence-building for Kazzum's creative health programmes.
• CarascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee organisation partner in collaborative projects including Harmony (2019) and Fly Your Flag (2018), which engaged young migrants in visual arts and advocacy.
• Young RootscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee organisation partner in collaborative arts projects including Harmony and Fly Your Flag, providing participants for Kazzum's creative programmes.
• Refugee CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Harmony project with over 100 young people from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds. Refugee Council provides participants and organisational support.
• Shpresa ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlbanian-speaking refugee organisation partner in the Harmony project and Fly Your Flag exhibition.
• The Baytree CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial inclusion charity for women and girls in Brixton. Kazzum delivered creative workshops funded by Queen Mary University, celebrating the heritage of young girls from multicultural and multilingual backgrounds.
• APOW (Amazing People of the World)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Kazzum to deliver drama-based workshops for young people exploring leadership and self-confidence in 2024/25.
• London Bubble Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of the Speech Bubbles programme. Kazzum delivers Speech Bubbles in Newham schools under this national franchise model. Speech Bubbles has reached 9,200 children since 2009.
• Trauma-informed Schools UK (TISUK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKazzum's Artistic Director Alex Evans works alongside TISUK as a national trainer across education and charity sectors, embedding trauma-informed practice methodology throughout Kazzum's programmes.
• Health TreecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative health delivery partner in The Heart Project alongside Kazzum Arts and London Arts and Health, developing training to upskill local artists in creative health work with young people.
• London Arts and HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The Heart Project, developing training that supports local artists to upskill and develop their work in creative health with young people in Tower Hamlets.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Doorstep Arts: National network of arts organisations delivering creative programmes with disadvantaged young people. Operates a similar trauma-informed / participatory arts model in shared beneficiary communities.
• Half Moon Theatre: East London young people's theatre producing work for children and youth, including those with special educational needs. Shares Kazzum's East London base and youth drama focus.
• Create: London-based national arts charity delivering participatory creative programmes for children and young people facing disadvantage, including young offenders, refugees, and those with mental health needs. Highly comparable mission, delivery model, and beneficiary profile.
• Cardboard Citizens: Theatre company using drama and arts with people affected by homelessness, criminal justice, and displacement. Comparable target population and trauma-informed creative delivery approach.
• Talawa Theatre Company: Britain's leading Black-led touring theatre company with strong community engagement. Kazzum trustees A'Ishah Waheed and David Gilbert previously led Talawa's community and new work functions.
• Good Chance: Theatre company working with refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced communities. Direct methodological overlap with Kazzum's Pathways programme, and Kazzum trustee Elias Matar is Good Chance's Deputy Artistic Director.
• Immediate Theatre: East London participatory theatre company working with young people in schools and community settings, including those excluded from mainstream education. Direct operational overlap with Kazzum's Regulation programme.
• London Bubble Theatre Company: Developed the Speech Bubbles programme that Kazzum delivers in Newham schools. Closest operational peer with shared drama-for-young-people methodology and shared beneficiaries.
• Apples and Snakes: England's leading organisation for performance poetry, with extensive programmes engaging young people including those at risk. Overlaps with Kazzum's spoken word and advocacy work (e.g., Words Apart, Brighter Futures).

Emerging players

• Turtle Key Arts: Cross-arts organisation creating arts projects with marginalised young people including refugees and young carers. Comparable niche focus but smaller scale and broader geographic spread.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kazzum