A Tooting entrepreneur who was supported into business by The Prince’s Trust has joined forces with the youth charity to launch a new fundraising project to boost the wellbeing of young people.

Together with Fearne Cotton and her Happy Place initiative, The Prince’s Trust has launched The Great Create, which encourages people to have a go at making something together and discover how good it feels to get creative while raising vital funds to help young people.

Taslima Khan from Tooting, runs a conscious fashion label named Taslima K which creates awareness of social issues through fashion.

Taslima started her business with support from The Prince’s Trust Enterprise programme and is now part of The Great Create, which encourages people to get together to use arts and crafts as a tool for improving wellbeing.

After moving to England when she was eight, Taslima had a tough time settling in. During her school years, it was creativity that gave her the outlet she needed:

“Although I struggled with formal education, I’ve always been creative and loved fashion so I worked hard and went to university to study fashion design and marketing," she said.

"However, being a woman of colour from South London, I felt like I couldn’t express myself.

"After graduating, I struggled to get paid work and did a few internships but felt like the brands I was trying to work for didn’t really care for people like me. I was unemployed and trapped in a cycle I couldn’t get out of.

“By volunteering for social action projects, I met someone who had been supported by The Prince’s Trust and they referred me to the Enterprise programme. I now run my own fashion label, Taslima K. The womenswear is handmade in London and we give back to the source of our inspiration.”

The Great Create focuses on topics that are close to home for Taslima, which is why she wanted to get involved.

“I’m creative and a carer. In school, I always engaged better with creativity – it enabled me to express myself. Getting creative can give you time to reflect and the Great Create parties are a fun way of teaching and engaging people," she added.

“My brand delivers creative art therapy workshops, working with companies to help employees find a balance between work, social lives and being creative. I’ve even introduced art therapy workshops in St Lucia to start the conversation on mental health through creativity! I’m also trying to work with schools to engage young people in art from a young age.

“Art has been the most powerful tool to get me through life, and I’d love it to help other people too.”

The money raised through The Great Create will fund Prince’s Trust courses that support young people’s wellbeing. The Prince’s Trust helps those young people who need it most, building their confidence and enabling them to fulfil their potential.