"This book seeks to fill the gap of often incomplete conversations about widening participation and inclusion at university."

The first independent title to be released on Stormzy‘s imprint with Penguin Books has been revealed – and it’s a vital look at the barriers faced by ethnic minorities in gaining access to higher education.

Taking Up Space is a joint effort by recent Cambridge graduates Chelsea Kwakye and Ore Ogunbiyi. Billed as a “guide for manifesto and change”, it aims to tackle issues of access, university life and discrimination within the classroom.

Kwakye was the only black girl in her school year to read History at Homerton College, Cambridge. She recently graduated with first-class honours. Ogunbiyi, meanwhile, graduated from Cambridge with a degree in Politics and International Relations.

“Diversity and inclusion have become buzzwords, especially in education, but it is time that we had honest conversations about what those two words truly mean, especially for young black girls”, the pair commented in a joint statement.

“Through our stories and the experiences of past and present university students, this book seeks to fill the gap of often incomplete conversations about widening participation and inclusion at university. It will be the book that we wish we had before going into university and we hope it provides a comfort to those who will inevitably share our experiences.”

Announcing #Merky books in July, Stormzy said: “I know too many talented writers that don’t always have an outlet or a means to get their work seen and hopefully #Merky Books can be a reference point for them to say ‘I can be an author’ and for that to be a realistic and achievable goal.”