From joining Access Sport’s National Youth Board in 2021 to founding The Open Yoga Project, Ruby is a shining example of the power of youth voice.

In the article below, Ruby shares how her experiences, from coaching SEND sessions to leading an athletic programme while travelling, inspired her to build a social enterprise that brings yoga into communities that are often excluded from wellbeing spaces.

Article by Ruby Cracknell Wright

The past few years have been full of learning, stepping outside my comfort zone, and figuring things out as I went along. The moments that shaped me were those where I took a chance and defied convention.

I’m Ruby, founder of The Open Yoga Project, a social enterprise bringing yoga beyond the studio and into communities often excluded from wellbeing spaces. My connection with Access Sport began in 2021, long before the creation of The Open Yoga Project, and has influenced almost every step of my journey.

After sixth form, I took a gap year to pause academic pressures and gain hands-on experience. Staying in London allowed me to build on my role as a children’s sports coach, where I began leading SEND sessions and contributing to the company's partnership with Access Sport. Being involved in inclusive programmes early on showed me the power of physical activity for underrepresented groups.

That same year, I joined the Access Sport Youth Board. Now five years in, it remains one of the most empowering spaces I have experienced. It gave me a space to use my voice, grow in confidence and work alongside other young people who value inclusion. Most importantly, it reinforced the idea that young people can lead, influence decisions, and generate change long before they hold formal titles or qualifications.

Through Access Sport, I met Kelly, a yoga instructor whose inclusive approach reframed my understanding of yoga. It was creative, accessible and a refreshing change from the rigid, exclusive atmosphere often found in studio classes. With Kelly’s encouragement, I went on to complete my 200-hour yoga training and began teaching in community spaces for Southwark Council.

Another turning point arrived whilst travelling. I met Claire, who had spent several summers working at Camp Kirk, a residential camp in Canada for neurodivergent youth. She encouraged me to apply, and I took a chance. I spent this summer leading the athletics programme and supporting children with diverse needs, learning the importance of communication, flexibility, and patience - skills that now underpin my work.

At university, where I studied Sports, Exercise, and Health Science, I continued teaching yoga. In my final year, a guest lecturer briefly mentioned self-employment, which sparked the idea of further developing my teaching. After graduating this summer, I decided to pursue this and began shaping The Open Yoga Project.

In October, my project gained momentum when I was accepted into the Go! London Young Entrepreneurs Programme, delivered by the School for Social Entrepreneurs. The programme provided me with up to £15,000 in funding, alongside training and mentoring, enabling me to formally launch The Open Yoga Project.

I’m currently in the early stages of building the organisation, teaching in schools and community settings and refining my programmes. Looking ahead, I hope to grow a strong community through yoga, conduct research into the barriers to participation, and one day open a space that combines a community cafe with an inclusive studio.

Access Sport has supported my journey throughout, not only through training and opportunities, but by championing youth voice. Their belief in young people gave me the confidence to explore ideas that I would have otherwise hesitated to pursue.

For anyone considering starting their own project, here are my key pieces of advice:

• Engage with what genuinely interests you
• Utilise the available support
• Start small and be open to opportunities - even the unexpected ones.

You don’t need everything figured out before you begin. Often, the first step is simply giving yourself permission to explore an idea.

Want to find your voice? 

Applications for the 2026 National Youth Board are now open!

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Read more about The Open Yoga Project:

Website - www.theopenyogaproject.co.uk

Instagram - @theopenyogaproject