Knife crime is all over the press – and we’re shocked, but sometimes it’s hard to imagine what life on the street looks like and what choices young people have to make on a constant basis.
Today I had the privilege of meeting former boxer James Cook (MBE) who runs the Pedro Club in Hackney. He works directly with young people to help them build skills and create positive paths in life.
They have challenges we can’t begin to imagine. Kids with parents working double jobs are often left to themselves. The temptation to make a quick buck is very present, “They want to make money,” he says, “but they won’t live long enough to spend it.”
The situation is complex: We are surrounded by advertising and social media promoting consumer goods, Kids are influenced by the glitzy billboards for the latest brands and cars. Peer pressure is high on social media.
James tells the story of his grandson who was building a drama career and had a part in Top Boy. These days as he walks through Hackney, kids recognise him, and in a confusion between real and virtual life, he is subject to real life threats. Bullying has gone from being in the playground to being a real threat to life 24 hours a day – and both young people and the parents are often ill-prepared to deal with it. It is not surprising kids find it hard to say No.
