A Legacy of Hope
A journey and a half across the UK delivering Hope Hacks since mid-2021, post-COVID, when we were able to physically engage young people with events again.
What made the Hope Hacks so special? I would say it was all about the people who threw their hats in the ring from a vast array of youth orgs and violence reduction units (VRU) to volunteer their time for a common cause. As they said in Scotland, it really is all about relationships, and the Hope Collective ethos has been about relationship building from day one.
The all-party commission I had the privilege of being lead advisor for dug deep with evidence that demonstrated the successful implementation of public health strategy, and it's fair to say that we took those learnings into the construction of the Hope Collective partnership network.
The magic that comes from truly authentic youth-led events shone through in each and every Hope Hack, and when you ask young people to reimagine a fairer society through solution workshops facilitated by top youth workers, be prepared for an eruption of positivity!
Many wonderful orgs, such as UK Youth, Volunteering Matters, Kings Trust, Street Games and National Youth Agency, have played their part while the National Citizen Service was literally starting to reinvent itself by playing an integral role in forming the Hope Hack.
The Damilola Taylor Trust, of course, represented by me, and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, helping pull everything together. One big family of hope!
Dozens of organisations, hundreds of fabulous youth workers and thousands of empowered young people. The Hope Hack delivers localised outcomes everywhere it pitches up with issues manifesting out of poverty and inequalities attacked with great zest by the youngsters taking part.
The summary outcome when everything is collated is that young people are fed up of being asked to give their time, passion and voice time and time again, only for the adult establishment to move on to something else without taking action, as evidenced by young people.
Across the top line issues investigated were, of course, mental and physical well-being, employability and skills, education, community policing and youth services. Criminal justice, social housing and the environment, etc.
A summary report is currently in motion under RFF direction.
I enjoyed facilitating many workshops across the UK and have wonderful memories of the young people’s participation.
“Algebra”, shouted young Ruby from Liverpool. My school want to talk to me about Algebra but I have severe anxiety and they can’t talk to me about my mental health. Where will Algebra be when I leave school? While my mental health will follow me wherever I go!
AI will change everything, said 15-year-old Adam as he lifted his hoodie to take part in an education workshop in Hull. We were discussing the state of education and the curriculum. Adam hadn’t really participated until right at the death…
The curriculum will be entirely rewritten by AI and everything will change, he said.
Who is going to disagree?
The antiquated state of the curriculum was a constant theme emerging, and how AI might play a role in coping mechanisms around mental health with trusted adult mentors, etc.
Fascinating themes and stories.
We are now evolving into a well structured membership cooperative and the plans we have for capacity building our YMG central to our thoughts. The VRU regions are hotbeds of crime and violence, hence investment by the Home Office but we recognise they are all regions beset by poverty and inequalities.
Imagine a youth movement coming from these regions with a common goal to create a friendship network designed to share ideas and solutions to level up their communities?
Maybe lessons learned from the shortcomings of NCS can be put to good use while the upsides enhanced by having a huge consortia of like-minded orgs supporting the development and growth?
Right now, we are consolidating our infrastructure and looking at several Hope Hacks this year as hybrid versions like the ones we have done on Community policing: https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/young-people-come-together-to-debate-the-future-of-policing
And Violence against women and girls: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/andrew-tates-home-town-targeted-36215933
A Community's Hope Hack that sees young people coming up with ideas and recommendations to heal the growing division and discord in the UK over refugees and immigration issues is one we are keenly exploring.
Trust in young people, and the world looks a whole lot better.
