Hackney school’s mental health charity to launch pop-up arts shop curated by top DJ

Curator: BBC Radio 6 DJ Gilles Peterson. Photograph: Look Up

An emerging mental health charity created by Stoke Newington School is to open a pop-up bookshop and record store next month – curated exclusively by renowned BBC Radio 6 DJ Gilles Peterson.

Safaplace, which was set up in 2016 in the memory of two local youngsters who took their own lives, aims to support the positive mental health and wellbeing of the school’s pupils and the wider community.

The charity is currently raising money to help it grow, and part of that sees the launch of its very own pop-up arts shop, which will run from 24-30 September at Edwards Lane Gallery behind Stoke Newington Library.

The week-long enterprise, called Look Up, is the result of a collaboration with Peterson, who has chosen the albums, books and artwork that will be on sale.

Goldie is one of many stars who will be making an appearance. Photograph: Look Up

The DJ has also picked a number of guests who will be interviewed at the shop, or perform at nearby venue The Old Church, over the course of the week.

They include drum and bass legend Goldie, broadcaster and record label boss Colleen “Cosmo” Murphy, model and rapper Aaron Unknown, east London songsmith Yazmin Lacey, and others.

Look Up is also putting on a closing party, featuring sets from HAAi and DJ Daphni, at Five Miles nightclub in Seven Sisters on 4 October.

Peterson told the Citizen: “There’s never been a more important time for the creative community to support social issues and the existing institutions that are under pressure.

“Safaplace is a charity that deals with issues that I feel strongly about and I’m keen for the Look Up store to help raise awareness for this important cause.”

Tickets for the various Look Up events range from £5 to £15 and are available at Dice.fm.

All proceeds, including those from the shop’s sales, will go to Safaplace.

The charity says it will put the money towards mental health training for teachers and peer mentoring for students at Stoke Newington School.

You can also donate to Safaplace through its JustGiving page.

For more information about Look Up, and what’s on during the week, please visit lookuppopup.co.uk

To find out more about Safaplace, head over to safaplace.org