Our Team
Miss Yankey, Founder
Meet Miss Yankey, the Founder of Safe Spoken and a passionate advocate for social and political change. With over 7 years of experience in the Spoken Word community, Miss Yankey has established herself as a respected leader and facilitator. As a Director of Mind Over Matter Arts, and the Founder and Director of Poetry Prescribed, she has organised and hosted numerous events, showcasing the power of poetry to inspire and empower.
As a spoken word poet, Miss Yankey has performed at events all over the world, using her voice to amplify marginalised voices and promote awareness on critical issues. A champion for women's rights, she has collaborated with organisations such as Imkaan, Million Women Rise, Southall Black Sisters, Youth Realities, FLOWS, Reclaim The Night, and the Women's Equality Party.Miss Yankey is dedicated to harnessing the therapeutic benefits of Spoken Word to promote good mental health and wellbeing. Her work with Poetry Prescribed and Mind Over Matter is a testament to this commitment. She has also worked with mental health organisations, charities, and services, including Rethink Mental Illness, MIND, Bethlem Museum of the Mind, Southwark CMHS, and The Royal Institute of Psychiatrists.
"Through my work as Founder of Safe Spoken, I am committed to creating a space where every voice is heard, every story is valued, and every individual feels seen and respected. I believe that by fostering a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and understanding, we can break down the barriers that silence and marginalise our voices. Join me on this journey to build a safer, more inclusive spoken word community where everyone can thrive.” - Miss Yankey
Angel Witney, Co-Founder
Angel (she/her) is a queer poet, dancer and actor based in London, and has been involved with the spoken word community for over 2 years.
Angel has been an integral part of the Safe Spoken relaunch in 2024, after her own experiences of sexual assault within the scene and the lack of resources, policies and reporting lines to get support.
Currently undergoing a masters in psychology, Angel is passionate about mental health and issues surrounding safeguarding and protecting the wellbeing of vulnerable people.
With a background in PR and business development, Angel leads the social media engagement strategy for Safe Spoken as well as supporting on funding and policy development.