BRITISH
EMPIRE MEDAL "I am pleased to announce that Phil Turner, our Community Development Worker, was mentioned in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2015. This award recognises his services to young people, the police and community engagement in London." Cheryl Brown, Chair of Second Wave Trustees
PEACE AWARD Second Wave was nominated for a London Leadership and Peace Award in December 2014. The celebrations, organised by the Peace Alliance with the support of the Mayor of London, was held at City Hall on 10th December 2014. Second Wave's nomination was "for successfully building bridges and uniting diverse cultures, religions and peoples in the London community".
Second Wave Youth Outreach
Team is leading
on an innovative creative project at Sedgehill
School in SE London, exploring community safety issues.
PARTNERSHIP
Chair of Trustees Tasha Matthews attends
a full meeting of Lewisham Council with volunteers and
members of 2Wave. Recognition of 2Wave's work in collaboration
with Lewisham Community Police Consultation Group.
GOOD PRACTICE
2Wave was
given a Metropolitan Police Authority
Award for Good Practice in Community Engagement for our work with young people
and police around community safety.
Wave
25th Birthday
Originally set up in 1982 by
a group of young women from Deptford, Second Wave celebrated
its 25th birthday in 2007. At the AGM on 17 March 07
Second Wave trustees and members welcomed guests to a
celebration performance by young women lyricists and
presentations by Dr Jill Jameson, Dr James Ogunleye,
Sgt Phil Mockett and Sgt Neil Zabitt from the TSG.
The Shadow Games Project
This youth project is part of Second Wave’s ‘Prevent’ outreach programme. Delivered in collaboration with the Home Office (OSCT), Lewisham Crime Reduction Service, Metropolitan Police Service (Lewisham), local schools, colleges and community partners, it uses a drama based approach to tell the story of a teenage boy who is drawn into a world of extremism. He is influenced by an older man who encourages bloodshed and violence.
"Hit them where it hurts, then they listen…. you’re going to make history, Samuel…"
About the Play 17-year-old Samuel is a natural gamer. He can beat anyone on line and his ‘Black Ops’ scores are legendary. But, in his mind, Samuel is playing a different game – one where the stakes are high, for both him and his family. When a powerful new influence comes into his life, what happens when the fantasy of violence becomes a reality?
The Shadow Games project is designed for the 14 -18 year old age-group but is also suitable for inter-generational audiences. Interested in bringing our workshops and performances to your school or community centre? Please contact philturner@secondwave.org.uk for more information.
Feedback from some of our audiences
“An important subject - my students loved it”
“You could relate to the characters and see things from different perspectives”
“Inspiring performances by young people…"
"A powerful drama with a hint of humour"
"This work opens up an important discussion in a safe way for people of all ages…"
Second Wave’s Approach
At Second Wave we focus our efforts on strengthening the critical awareness of young people themselves – allowing them to arrive, in their own ways, at a balanced view of these issues – and using drama-based skills to achieve this. Our Shadow Games project is the result of these efforts – a positive contribution by young people to a wider ongoing debate in a play and workshop programme designed to open up discussion in a safe, youth-centred context.
Our youth-led outreach work includes: workshops, performances, community forums and debates which explore the power of ideas and the language of persuasion. Through narrative and counter-narrative, debate and discussion, we open up dialogue on what is extremism; how it presents itself; its cumulative impacts; and its range of consequences for different individuals, families and communities. Inevitably, this is a difficult subject to explore with young people. Complex ethical issues of culture, faith and trust underpin many of these difficulties. We develop collaboration with community partners to deliver this outreach work.
Our aims are to:
• Raise awareness and recognise the susceptibility of young people to ‘grooming’ and how they can be influenced or drawn into risk-taking situations by people they want to trust.
• Work from first-hand experience at a local level – finding ways of bringing people together – not pushing them further apart – in order to address issues of community cohesion.
• Acknowledge the reality of violence and the power of non-violence when communities feel divided against themselves, identifying significant links between victims and perpetrators of violence.
• Work together with young people, community organisations, faith groups, schools, colleges and other agencies – to protect shared values and establish strong local partnerships.
• Offer no simple answers – encouraging our audience to arrive at their own conclusions – raise their own questions and challenge ideas.
• Identify rights, responsibilities and freedoms of an inclusive community – and how citizens actively affirm these characteristics, individually and collectively, by contributing to the life of that community.
MY CITY REAL WORLD Together in Europe, Rotterdam Conference19, 20 November 2010
Led by young facilitators, the Second Wave team offered a series of
practical workshops and presentations summarizing the five-year journey of Second
Wave’s work in the Critical Encounters and how this work informed the concept
and methodology behind the International Initiative, My City Real World, and
inviting partners to discuss future collaborations between UK and Europe. The
conference, organized by the International Debate Education Association in cooperation
with the Open Society Youth Initiative, enabled different organizations to
share ideas about successful projects focusing on the inclusion of marginalized,
migrant and minority youth. For more info www.idebate.org/rotterdam2010/
MORE ABOUT SECOND WAVE'S INVOLVEMENT IN MY CITY REAL WORLDhere. StopWatch
launched by Rev Jesse Jackson King's College London Monday 18 October 2010
READ THE REPORT here. Joan Ruddock MP visits Second Wave
In October 2010 Joan Ruddock MP visited the centre and met young people, police officers and community representatives involved in ‘Critical Encounters’. Joan heard about the impact of the work from Lewisham’s Borough Commander, Jeremy Burton, community representatives, and young people, including students from Prendergast Ladywell Fields College. She was impressed by the impact of the programme and emphasised her support for the future development of ‘Critical Encounters’ both locally, and internationally.
Second
Waver elected Young Mayor
BIG UP Kieza! Congratulations to Kieza Silveira de Sousa, elected Young Mayor of Lewisham for 2010-11. A well-known and respected member of Second Wave, Kieza will bring his dedication & creative skills to the role. For more info on Young Mayor scheme go to www.b-involved.org.uk
From left to right: Jacob, Kieza, Lola and Jawan
SECOND
WAVE AND THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE
MY CITY REAL WORLD INTERNATIONAL WEEKEND
EVENT
3 – 5 June 2010 FOR A REPORT OF THIS
CONFERENCE PLEASE click here. REACHING
COMMUNITIES
2009/10 YOUTH CREATIVITY & SOCIAL
JUSTICE
Friday
11 December 2009 Second Wave held it's 5th
Symposium event with Second Wave Trustees opening
up a debate about community
cohesion and the role of the young people in
offering leadership and creative, youth-centred
solutions. Invited
speakers included Dr Rebekah Delsol (Open
Justice Society), Dr
Jill Jameson
(Greenwich Unversity), Gary Connors (Safer
Lewisham), Dr Basia
Spalek
(Birmingham University), David Michael (Chair
of Lewisham Community Police Consultative Group), Superintendent
Lisa Crook, Mahad
Abdullahi (Somali and Somaliland London
Community), Superintendent
Terry O'Connor, and the Mayor of
Lewisham, Sir Steve
Bullock. Click here to download the Symposium
Event Programme.
'I found it the Symposium
extremly interesting and uplifting'Nadia Whyte, MARAC Young
Person's Support Worker
'It's a pleasure to work with Second
Wave'Mahad Abdullahi from
the Somali & Somaliland London Community
'I had an amazing day on Friday and I would
love to return to Second Wave'Dr
Basia Spalek, University of Birmingham
The SWAGGA PARTNERSHIP PROJECT
A successful long-term partnership led
by Second Wave young artists, the Swagga Partnership
Project brings
young people and police officers together to address issues of
violence, safety and gang intimidation in the community. The project
has won recognition and awards from the Metropolitan
Police Authority
for Good Practice in Community Engagement and a Commendation
for Professionalism in Partnership Work from the Metropolitan
Police Service (March
2007). The ‘excellent work
of Second Wave’ was
recommended in Dying To Belong, a recent study by the Centre
For Social Justice (Feb 2009), championed by the Right
Honorable Iain Duncan Smith.
Second Wave plans to develop the initiative in other London Boroughs,
as well as pursue an Exchange Project with a similar youth organisation
based in Amsterdam (Feb 2010).
“Most
young men are not in gangs
but they get drawn in, or
become victims. Our writing
process enables young people
to explore
their stories and anxieties,
support each other and even
find positive solutions.”Talmud
Bah, lead writer and Second
Wave’s
Associate Director
“The process at
Second Wave challenges convention...It brings you as a writer into a process
with young people, and other young artists. You work with the experiences they
bring to shape the story.”Tamsin Kayembe, Co-Author,
SWAGGA
“Swagga
was incredible...a
professional and
well-written piece.
I was blown away
with the talent
and enthusiasm
of the young people
involved.” Dr
Rebekah Delsol,
Open Society Justice Initiative
“At
Second Wave young
artists create
the narrative” Talmud Bah
To see pictures of the August performance of the show, click
here.
SYMPOSIUM 'Working in partnership' 28 May 09
Lewisham Police Station
'I am continually inspired by the work
of grassroots organisations, working to tackle our most
deep rooted social problems'Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith
In May 2009 2Wave Youth Outreach Team presented
their creative work to an audience which included RT Hon
Iain Duncan Smith, who chairs the Centre for Social Justice
(CSJ). Martins Imhangbe, 18 year old member
of the 2Wave Team said, 'our workshops
allow the police to see where young people are coming from,
and vice versa'.
Mr Duncan Smith said, 'There is a good
practice in Lewisham but not everywhere, and their good practice
needs to be taken to other places'.
'Dying to Belong,' a report
on young people and gangs by CSJ made recommendations that, 'the
National Policing Improvement Agency develops a programme
based on the excellent work being done by Second Wave'.
They also commented that 'the relationship
between third sector youth workers and young people is usually
one of trust, and because the project is seen as independent
from enforcement agencies, there is greater potential for
collaboration with young people'.
Author of the report Charlotte Pickles (CSJ), presented some
of the research findings to guests who included officers of
the council, police officers, community workers, and Geeta
Subramaniam (Head of Crime Reduction Lewisham), David Michael
(Chair of LCPCG) and Superintendent Lisa Crook, Terry O'Connor
(TSG 4 ). Cheryl Brown, and Denise Dickenson (2Wave Trustees)
thanked the Borough Police for providing their hospitality
for the event.
Vs in the house
On 6 December
07, young volunteers hosted a visit from MP Phil
Hope, Minister for the Third Sector. The young
volunteers’ showcase included a Q&A session
with the minister, performances by young artists, and
presentations from the TSG (Territorial Support Group)
demonstrating their pioneering work with Second Wave.
Mr Hope was shown around Second Wave by workshop tutor
Tori Taiwo. He said: "I am extremely impressed
with the energy and enthusiam and delighted to see first
hand the way you work with the police and produce inspiring
performances..."
Summer Symposium
On 19
July 07 a Symposium co-hosted by Second Wave and TSG4
(Territorial Support Group) explored issues of Stop
and Search. The theme Walk In My Shoes inspired
the day’s presentations and performances, and
raised the issue of negative stereotyping of police
and young people. Workshop discussions opened up the
issue of shared responsibility for community safety.
The event was the culmination of two and a half years’ continuous
work between Second Wave and TSG4. A further Symposium
is planned for June 08.
Above and below: workshops
and presentations in role reversal with young people
and police
‘There’s
a lot we can learn from the TSG, but a lot
they can learn from us. We are only limited
by the things we believe we cannot achieve’Gordon
Glean, Chair, Monitoring Sub Group, Stop & Search
Conference Report, July 2007
'The
TSG look forward to continuing our relationship
with Second Wave to build on trust, understanding
and forge new links in the community’Chief
Inspector Terry O’Connor, TSG4
Borough Commander Alan Pughsley
with Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham
‘A
lot of young people out there don’t feel
safe. It’s good to feel you can support
other young people and be a role model for
them’Samina
Jusu, Wave volunteer, aged 18
‘I
am pleased to be working with Second Wave
to nurture young people to become reflective
practitioner-researchers’ Dr
Jill Jameson, who is working with Second
Wave young artists on practice-based research
'Young people
are leading the way in improving police and
community relations and making a difference
to people of all ages’Phil
Turner, Learning & Development Officer
at Second Wave, with members of the Somali & Somaliland
Lewisham Community Group (SSLC), who are working
with Second Wave to build more positive relationships
between young people and the police.
"Second Wave is an organisation that empowers young people through a creative journey…taking responsibility for themselves and their community. In doing this Second Wave achieves so much – with creative projects that allows young people to express themselves in a safe space, to grow and develop in a beneficial way…" Professor Jill Jamieson, University of Greenwich, Centre for Leadership and Enterprise
Moving On DVD
In June 2009 Second
Wave completed a short film about our work with young people
and the police, for use as a training resource.
February 2009
"We recommend that the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA)
develops a programme based on the excellent work being done by Second
Wave...and TSG4"
Recommendation of the Centre for Social Justice 'Gangs Working Group'
in Dying To Belong, A Review of Street Gangs in Britain (published
Feb 09).
Members
Nite
‘Police Officers cannot know what is happening in
young people’s lives – unless there are opportunities
to meet and talk on an informal basis beyond that zone of confrontation.
This is what we have been doing at Second Wave and it is ground-breaking
work’ Sgt Phil Mockett (TSG4) pictured
above meeting young volunteers
at a Members Nite at Second Wave, 18 October 07
.............................
Girl Power
Girls Rally Go-Karting
Team taking part in REAL EVENT with TSG4