100 young people discuss solutions to violence and poverty in memory of Damilola Taylor

About 100 young people from across London came together in Peckham on Sunday for a “Hope Hack” to discuss how to create a more equal and fairer society, in memory of Damilola Taylor.

The event brought Damilola’s legacy home as it arrived at Mountview Theatre, in Peckham Hill Street, Peckham, for a workshop on Sunday morning.

Hope Hacks are community workshops – organised by cross-sector organisations like the Hope Collective and Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) – that provide platforms for young people aged 15 to 25 to develop youth-led solutions to problems in society.

The event on Sunday included workshops to discuss issues young people understand to be the most pressing, including community safety, mental health, housing, transport, the environment, education and youth services as well as the arts, music, and social media. 

Ideas discussed by young people at each hack inform the Re-imagine report – being written by researchers from the Hope Collective to be delivered to the UK government and regional authorities in April 2024.

The Peckham event was the 24th Hope Hack since the Hope Collective was set up in 2020, to support the 20th-anniversary legacy campaign for Damilola.

Damilola was 10 years old when he was stabbed to death near Peckham Library, on his way home from school on November 27, 2000.

The killing raised questions about the lives of young people living in deprived and inner-city areas.

Richard Taylor, Damilola’s dad and founder of the Damilola Taylor Trust, said: “The Hope collective started out as a legacy campaign in 2020 and has grown into something far more impactful than we could ever have imagined. 

“I am so grateful to all the organisations that join forces to make the Hope hacks so successful.”

Self-proclaimed “Peckham Boy” Kenny Imafidon, hosted the day’s workshops and talks.

Earlier this year, Mr Imafidon published his book, That Peckham Boy, on what it means to be young, black and poor in London, That Peckham Boy, earlier this year.

Aged 18, Mr Imafidon was charged with a murder he did not commit. After the case against him collapsed, he decided to move his life in a new direction, beginning with The Kenny Report, which he delivered to the House of Commons, detailing the experiences of marginalised young people who drift into gangs.

This led to extensive work with charities, communities and policy-makers that is helping to change the narratives of other young people.

Supported by the Damilola Taylor Trust and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, the Hope Collective organised the Peckham workshop as the final Hope Hack event for 2023.

Rio Ferdinand, founder of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation said: “I am so proud that my Foundation is continuing to work with the Damilola Taylor Trust to remember Damilola, and to work with young people through the work of the Hope Collective to give a voice and to try and create a more equal society.

“This event brought the Hope Hackathon back to my home area of Peckham and I am looking forward to hearing what young people across the capital are saying.”

The event at Mountview Theatre concluded with a performance by a Gospel Choir.

Pictured Top: Young people take to the stage to tell their stories and discuss solutions to challenges (Picture: Jayen Shukla)