Never Such Innocence is made up of a close-knit team dedicated to engaging children and young people across the world with the centenary of the First World War through the creative arts.

Lady Lucy French,
Founder and Chief Executive

Lucy Kentish,
Director of Operations

Maddie Messenger,
Education Coordinator

Eleanor Stephens,
Education Coordinator

We are fortunate to work with inspirational colleagues to deliver Never Such Innocence and Songs of the Centenary to communities across the United Kingdom.

Marty Longstaff,
Teacher and Artist in Residence

Bethzienna Williams,
Teacher and Artist in Residence

Leah Messenger & Amy Vatcher,
Outreach Interns

Elly Preston,
Graphic Designer

Never Such Innocence

Never Such Innocence is a registered charity (number 1156148) in England and Wales and is a unique project fitting into the wider series of 2014-2018 centenary activities. Our aim is to ensure young people nationally are inspired, informed and included in the centenary activities.

The charity takes its name from Philip Larkin’s famous poem MCMXIV, which reflects on the changes caused by the First World War. The driving force behind Never Such Innocence is Lady Lucy French, great-granddaughter of Field Marshal Sir John French who commanded the British Expeditionary Forces from 1914-15.

The launch of Never Such Innocence was kindly hosted at Australia House in May 2014 with a gala dinner and theatrical performance, blending poetry, prose and music from the Great War, compiled by Dr Martin Stephen. Since our inception we have been dedicated to engaging the nation’s children in the First World War centenary through learning, poetry, art and music.

T: 0207 836 2603
11 Slingsby Place, London,
WC2E 9AB

Never Such Innocence.
Registered Charity Number 1156148 Company Number 8680319

🌟NSI Young Ambassador Sangeun N. has a message for our friends in Korea! 🇰🇷 🕊To find out more about our competition, visit our website, or the link in our bio.

From Futurism to DADA, look at some examples from our archives and see how similar the young people's opinions on war and conflict are to historical art movements. Check the Link in our Bio to read more and find out how to answer the question below ⬇️ “How Can We Prevent Future Wars?” Annual NSI Competition 2024/25 Deadline: 28/02/2025 Stay up to date on the competition by following our social media @neversuch and checking out the link in bio for more resources! #neversuchinnocence #artcompetition #artandexpression #artblog

🌟 "How can we put an end to conflict? “🕊✨ Kanniesh K., our Young Ambassador from Malaysia, has explored this heartfelt question through his powerful artwork. Kanniesh’s piece calls on us to reflect on the impact of war and the importance of peace efforts. 📝Participate in the competition and express your vision for a world without conflict. Translation of the content: Main text (top): "How can we put an end to conflict?" Lower text: Never Such Innocence Young Ambassador

The artist of this new great competition entry shared: "The phrase "free women" can be interpreted in various ways, often symbolizing the liberation and empowerment of women across different societies and contexts. It highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality, where women seek freedom from societal constraints, economic dependence, and discrimination. This movement encompasses diverse issues such as access to education, reproductive rights, equal pay, and the ability to make personal choices without fear of judgment or violence. The journey toward true freedom for women involves dismantling patriarchal structures and fostering a world where women can thrive as equal participants in all spheres of life. As more voices join the conversation, the vision of a world where all women are free becomes increasingly attainable." Visit our website at neversuchinnocence.com to learn more and take part in the competition. We encourage you to tackle the important question: How can we prevent future wars? Let your ideas inspire change!

Copy of Team

Never Such Innocence