The recent 2018 Team London Awards had a new category, called the Young Londoner Awards, celebrating the inspirational work young Londoners do in their city to address serious youth violence. Here we look at the winners' projects in more detail.
Deptford Green School Feminist Society
Students from Deptford Green School set up a Feminist Society, to inspire girls to think about political and community leadership from a young age. The FemSoc students created a campaign of assemblies to local sixth forms to educate them about registering to vote, have presented at several schools in the borough, at the Lewisham Council Vote 100 event, at the Feminism in Schools conference (which they organised and hosted), and have also given talks at local primary schools on feminism and democracy.
Members of FemSoc meet once a week to design and plan their campaign activities and have become role models to other girls, empowering them to think outside of their background or culture and to become excited and interested in their futures.
Leyton Citizens, Leyton Sixth Form
Students at Leyton Sixth Form undertook a listening campaign within the college to collect the views and concerns of staff and students. The main issues that emerged were youth violence and youth crime.
The students arranged meetings with representatives from the council and the police to address these issues, and became involved in youth panels, meeting with local leaders to raise awareness and how to support young people at risk of getting involved in youth violence. They are now developing further local organising and hosting campaigns within the college and inviting schools and colleges in the borough to collaborate and attend the event.
Silence the Violence, Hendon School
Students at Hendon School started a project to raise knowledge and awareness of the issues of gang affiliation and community safety. They delivered a conference for 150 local primary school students, arranging for a range of providers to speak including the police, a former gang member and addicts. These speakers informed the students about the dangers of gang affiliation and how to keep themselves safe and form healthy relationships.
They also held a Year 8 Anti-Gang Safety Day at Hendon School for students to learn a range of skills including self-defence and first aid. This day will also become a regular feature at Hendon School with the current project group and new recruits leading some of the sessions.
Brogan Brooks, BoxUP Crime
Brogan is a BoxUpCrime Young Leader, as well as a Social Entrepreneur studying DJ’ing. Witnessing crime in her community, she wanted to transform herself away from that life and support other young people in need of help. Brogan realised she could be someone that transforms young people into a better way of life, through love and distraction in a positive way.
Since beginning her volunteering, Brogan has recognised that volunteering has not only helped the young people in her community but has built up her own confidence and inspired her to focus on her own career. She uses her new skills to mentor other young people and help them to change track in their own lives.
Nahimul Islam, Wapping Youth FC
Nahimul turned away from the 'wrong crowd' and a tough upbringing at an early age and has become a role model for young people in his community. Currently volunteering his time to create a TV show that inspires his peers to integrate with others peacefully, he also delivers annual knife crime projects, launched his own football club, and is launching a community cohesion event called the 'One borough event'.
Without any help and guidance during his own childhood, Nahimul searched for opportunities himself to give back to the community and is determined to help transform the lives of young people in his borough.
Tanisha Barrett-Thomas, For Jimmy
Tanisha volunteers at For Jimmy as an ambassador. At secondary school she struggled emotionally, and reached out to the charity, expressing a passion for raising awareness of the issue of youth violence in her community. Volunteering was a driver for her not engaging anti-social behaviour and remaining focused on changing her future.
She now works with her peers to engage with them and help voice their opinions on issues of safety across Lewisham. Tanisha also supported with delivery of the Safe Havens programme, where public spaces such as shops display a sticker in their window and agree to provide a safe space for young people who feel unsafe.