As the wind roars outside the Damilola Taylor Centre in Peckham, the sound of rain hitting the glass roof drowns out the squeaks of trainers on the gym floor inside. Despite the cold winter night, a group of teenage boys are engaged in a lively basketball game with youth workers from the Active Communities Network, who oversee the ‘My Ends’ program in Southwark.
Sammy, a 14-year-old, shares that it took him two buses and an hour to reach the center, but the positive impact it has had on him is profound. The boys playing basketball that evening are well aware of Damilola Taylor’s story and the significance of the place where they are gathered, reflecting on the tragic events that occurred 25 years ago.
Peckham’s Labour and Co-operative MP, Miatta Fahnbulleh, emphasizes the importance of providing safe spaces for young people, as highlighted by a young girl expressing her feelings of insecurity in between school and home. Fahnbulleh, also a minister in the Communities department, aims to ensure that by 2035, every child in Peckham will be within a 10-minute walk of a youth service.
Secretary of State Lisa Nandy launched a new youth strategy in Peckham just before Christmas, pledging £500 million investment in youth services to create 250 new or refurbished youth centers and 50 ‘Young Futures Hubs’ offering career and mental health support.
Fahnbulleh stresses the impact of loneliness on young people due to the decline in community spaces, highlighting the need to create environments where they feel a sense of ownership and belonging. The Co-op Party echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of quality youth services in building strong communities.
In Peckham, initiatives like MyEnds Southwark by the Active Communities Network play a crucial role in providing positive influences for young people, countering negative influences both online and offline. The testimonies of young attendees at the basketball sessions speak volumes about the transformative power of such programs in their lives.
Looking ahead, Fahnbulleh is committed to fulfilling her promise of ensuring that every young person in Peckham has access to a youth service within a 10-minute walk, recognizing the significant impact it can have on their lives.