On a cold winter night in Peckham, the wind howls outside the Damilola Taylor Centre as rain beats down on the glass roof. Inside, a group of teenage boys engages in an intense basketball game with youth workers from the Active Communities Network, who oversee the ‘My Ends’ program in Southwark.
Sammy, a 14-year-old, expresses that despite the long journey to the center, it has positively impacted him and provided a sense of security. Each teen present that evening is aware of Damilola Taylor’s story and the significance of the location. The memory of the 10-year-old’s tragic fate still resonates with them even 25 years later.
Labour and Co-operative MP Miatta Fahnbulleh emphasizes the need for safe spaces for young people, recounting a girl’s poignant words about feeling safe only at school and home, highlighting the inadequacy of safe spaces in between. Fahnbulleh, a minister in the Communities department, aims to ensure that by 2035, no Peckham child is more than a 10-minute walk away from a youth service.
The government’s new youth strategy, unveiled by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy in Peckham, focuses on investing £500 million to enhance youth services nationwide. The initiative includes plans to construct or revamp 250 youth centers and establish 50 ‘Young Futures Hubs’ for career guidance and mental health support.
Fahnbulleh stresses the impact of loneliness on young people, attributing it to the decline of communal spaces due to austerity measures. She envisions a future where every young person in Peckham can access a youth service within a 10-minute walk, fostering a sense of ownership and belonging.
In response to the youth crisis, the Co-op Party advocates for inclusive shared spaces to address loneliness and build stronger communities. At the Damilola Taylor Centre and through programs like MyEnds Southwark, volunteers like Omar Mohamed provide positive influences to counter negative influences faced by young people.
Participants in the basketball sessions at the center express gratitude for the opportunity it provides, noting the positive impact on their behavior and mentality. They emphasize the importance of such spaces in shaping their future and fostering a sense of community and purpose.
Fahnbulleh pledges her commitment to the cause, aiming to fulfill her promise of accessible youth services within a short walk for young people in the coming years, recognizing the significance of such initiatives in transforming lives and strengthening communities.