Meet the Chair of the Future Changemakers Fund
The Future Changemaker Fund is made up of contributions from Camden businesses, foundations and individuals. The aim of the fund is to fund ideas the keep local young people safe in their community. Decisions on which charities receive money from the fund is made by 10 local young people who we pay and train, Haroun is the Chair of the fund.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE CHAIR THE FUTURE CHANGEMAKER FUND?
As a young Camden resident, I wanted to be involved to make a change. Growing up I witnessed inequality and experienced homelessness. For that reason, I know I have an extremely valuable perspective on what really goes on beneath Camden’s ‘vibrant’ exterior. There is a generation of young people who are vulnerable to the act of grooming, violence, unemployment, crime and many more unfortunate circumstances because of the lack of access to organisations and provisions that should and could help.
I am most grateful for the opportunity and position. My intention is to protect my people, myself, and whole-heartedly my community from battling unfairness, inequality and fear.
I believe a community should help raise a child and regardless of my unfortunate experience, Camden is my community and in order to believe in myself I need to have more belief in my community.
Being the Chair of the Future Changemakers Fund gives me the power to not only implement change but to protect the next generation of young people, so they do not have to go through what I did.
HOW COULD CAMDEN BE A BETTER PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?
Employment
Youth have expressed that as hard as they may try, ‘Businesses wouldn’t hire someone from my estate .’I wish for there to be more effective employability schemes. I really believe that the impact of a good employability scheme and the role it can play in a young person’s life is underestimated. Its’ not just about finding a job, its’ about finding your identity and worth along the way. If we can help to bridge the gap between the education system and real life by offering our young people the skills they need to live independently i.e. opening a bank account, understanding how tax works, mortgages then we can create a easier pathway for them and a better chance of success. Whilst also preventing things such as knife crime, grooming, violence all the common issues effecting young people.
Community
I wish for youth services to have longer-term support... and if this is not possible, then something which aids individuals to support themselves. I wish my community had “family essence” incorporated within each movement. On a normal stroll around Camden I would bump into young teens emotionally battered to the point of abusing substances from an age as young as 12. I have overheard comments such as, “You have parents... you don't understand”, “I’m sick of doing nothing”
Young People’s Rights
Camden Council’s Youth Safety Taskforce Report found said, “it was made clear to the taskforce that many young people in the borough distrust the police”. Personally, I feel I still have not been helped with the correct support after being arrested. I believe that if support was easily accessible and young people knew their rights then there would be fewer arrests. This would mean we would have young people’s rights officers consistently visiting youth centres. With this knowledge young people would be able to interact more confidently with the police and in return prevent further conflict.
Health
I wish my local community would focus on bettering lives more holistically. My generation is in desperate need of better mental and physical health, unlike past generations they are exposed to social media and the constant use of phones which means they completely lack real life social skills. I think we need to work together to bring this generation back to living in the present. Practices such as meditation, general exercise and eating clean are all the things that have been overlooked. Their value in a person’s life let alone a young person is priceless.
I no longer want to see Camden’s young people killing themselves with these unhealthy habits. Hopefully a more holistic lifestyle will help them to empower themselves and this become contagious!
HOW CAN BUSINESSES SUPPORT THIS WORK?
Camden’s businesses can give me the resources we lack as a community. Camden is known for its very wealthy businesses; which have social responsibilities. They are in great positions to give back to the community by offering training, funding and employment exclusively for Camden residents.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE CHANGEMAKERS FUND?
By being involved in the fund, I hope for my fellow Future Changemakers gain:
Leadership.
An opportunity be portrayed better.
Better communication and connection between community and postcodes
With my fellow Future Changemakers, I hope we will be able to provide funding for:
Activities that help young people think wise by thinking twice, about violence.
Positive activities, employment for young people.
Awareness and preventative services for drug use.
Services that are helping young people in a way that makes them feel like it’s not a handout.
Safe spaces for young people to spend time that provide young people with a “family essence”.
Equipping young people to avoid grooming.
Thank you, people of Camden, for being so strong through tough times…