APPLY NOW
How to enter this year’s awards p15
MEET THE AMBASSADORS Inspiring stories from past winners p4
CHANGE OUR COMMUNITIES Young people have their say p10
P13 FRANCES LAWRENCE on
why the awards matter
P14 PLAnet explained
Get involved! Find out how young people can share ideas and take part
Produced in association with
g n i c u d o Intr PLAnet We hope that reading this magazine will give you a sense of the passion and inspiration that we get from PLAnet: the Philip Lawrence Awards Network. We truly believe that young people are a force for good. It is something we see every day, whether reading nominations from fantastic youth projects across the UK, or working with the creative and energetic fellowship of past winners who have helped to produce this magazine. It is unjust that the media and the public often hold negative perceptions based on the minority of young people who are involved in crime and antisocial behaviour. Last year a survey commissioned by PLAnet revealed that two-thirds of adults unfairly demonise young people by seriously overestimating the numbers involved in crime. In fact, young people are far more likely to be the victims of crime. Catch22, the young people’s charity that manages PLAnet, recently undertook some research with the young people who use its services and found that many of them feel unsafe in certain streets or areas. This isn’t surprising when three in five of the young people say they have been shouted at or spoken to in an abusive way, a third have had something stolen from them and more than a quarter have been beaten up or physically hurt in another way. The groups of young people who are part of PLAnet are leading the way in finding ways to address problems such as negative perceptions and crime – campaigning against problems such as knives and bullying, and creating safe and positive environments. This magazine contains some of their stories, and the issues that matter to them. Over the past 14 years, we have met so many resourceful and passionate young people who are leading the way to make change happen in their communities. We’ve seen how quick they are to empathise with others, to encourage and support each other, and to build bridges across divides of age and culture. When young people are empowered to take decisions and participate in a meaningful way – as 1999 award winner Steve Procter’s story on page 12 shows – the results can be powerful. Young people are capable of greatness, and if we give them the support and recognition they deserve, then we can feel justly optimistic for the future. We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this magazine, from the young editorial panel who first met back in December, to the fellowship members who have contributed to the content of the magazine, and particularly the support of Children & Young People Now. Thanks to the Home Office and Department for Education for funding PLAnet, and to teaching union NASUWT and Fearless for their support. Above all, thanks goes to Frances Lawrence, whose vision of a positive legacy for her husband Philip has made all of this possible. And finally, we want to invite you to help us find the PLAnet stars of 2010. This year’s nominations are now open, so visit www.philiplawrenceawards.net to find out more, join our network and tell us about the greatness you see in young people.
The PLAnet team
www.philiplawrenceawards.net
What’s inside...
p4 Young ambassadors talk about their role p6 What the PLAnet fellowship means to former winners p8 Enter for 2010 – our poster shows you how
p10 Our Shout: former award winners have their say on the issues that matter to them
p12 How PLAnet set one young man on the road to success
p13 Frances Lawrence on why the awards continue to matter
p14 Get involved! PLAnet explained
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With thanks to the youth panel and contributors to this magazine, all of whom are former winners: Hassan Adam, Jen Black, Jessica Haigh, Mark Howard, Dee Horwood, Leanne Humphrey, Anna-Nina Koduah, Lisa Lane, Jess Preddy, Christina Saadalla, Ben Sawyers, Jawad Shah, Rebecca Watson, Danny Wells, Donna Wilson, Alex Wingrove and Andy Winterbottom Cover stars 2009 winners James Sutcliffe, Jenine Dee and Tia Cowan All of the young people featured, and all those appearing in photographs throughout this magazine are members of the fellowship and former award winners PLAnet 2010 // 03
p u g n i k Spea FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Former winners of Philip Lawrence Awards from around the UK are carrying on their work, acting as ambassadors for PLAnet, and encouraging young people to go out and help their local communities – and gain the respect and recognition they deserve
leanNe humphrey // N. ireland
Winner in 2007 Leanne, 17, scooped the award for her work with the Castlederg Youth Forum, which brings together Catholic and Protestant young people to improve relations between the different communities. “Castlederg is separated; people go to different schools, different youth clubs, even different shops,” explains Leanne. “We set up a neutral venue open on Friday and Saturday nights to try to break down barriers. It started with me and one other girl – she was Protestant and I’m Catholic – and when we spoke at the beginning we got so much abuse, just for talking. But people do want change and it is about time we started to see the barriers falling down.” Since winning the award the group has gone from strength to strength and Leanne has gone on to become committee chairperson. “The recognition of the award has been brilliant. It means that funders take you far more seriously,” she says. Currently studying for her A-levels, Leanne hopes to go on to study criminology and forensic science at university as well as carrying on in her role as chairperson.
ben sawyers // wales Winner in 2009 Ben, 17, started playing an active role in his community at the age of 10 when he contacted his local MP to ask why there wasn’t a park near his house. “I wrote to my MP and said that I wanted a park, and it worked. Two years later there was a park,” he recalls. “Then I decided that if I joined the youth council I could have more of a say.” He is now chair of Neath Port Talbot (NPT) Youth Council, which last year won a Philip Lawrence Award for giving a voice to young people in the community. “NPT Youth Council is about getting the voices of children and young people heard and meets local council officials in order to improve young people’s lives,” he explains. “We already felt we had been recognised within our council, but to get national recognition is brilliant and the prize money will help with our restructuring to become an elected body.” Now that he has been made an ambassador he plans to tell more people in Wales about the awards. “It’s a great scheme, but not many people know about it,” he says. 04 // PLAnet 2010
www.philiplawrenceawards.net
Donna wilson // SCOTLAND Winner in 2003 “One of the best things about the Philip Lawrence Awards is that it’s the past winners who lead it and drive it forward,” explains Donna Wilson, 23. “And now as an ambassador for Scotland, I can go and talk to young people doing work in their community and tell them about the awards.” Donna won an award in 2003 for her work with Castlehead High School’s paired reading club, where she volunteered twice a week to help junior pupils with their reading. “People were coming into school who were 11 years old but had a reading age of six or seven,” she explains. “We spent time mentoring on a one-to-one basis, which also helped them develop their confidence.” Donna has been involved with the Philip Lawrence Awards network ever since winning – first as a judge, visiting winners to tell them more about the awards, and now as an ambassador. “There are so many young people who are doing brilliant work. If the people in charge don’t start encouraging them, they are going to lose a generation,” she says.
Jawad shah // north Winner in 2007 “Winning the award was amazing,” says Jawad, 20. “We were a very small organisation at the time, and there were about 15 or 20 of us. Now we have got a new building and run four or five different youth groups. All thanks to the Philip Lawrence Awards, which gave us recognition and helped us get funding. People really start to take you seriously, and the fact that the award is supported by the government makes it more important.” Jawad was part of a project that worked to gain recognition for war veterans from Africa and Asia who fought for Britain in World War Two. “We won the award because our project combined not only working with different generations but also working with white people, Asians and black people,” he explains. “Basically we were trying to cut down a lot of barriers all at the same time. I wondered whether it was going to work, with such a diverse group of people, but it did.” Currently studying educational psychology, Jawad plans to work with young people in the future. “Young people are so interesting. There is always something going on in their heads,” he says.
lisa lane // south christina saadalla // midlands & london Winner in 2005 “There is so much bad press about young people, and if you are always put down then there is no encouragement for young people to be good to the community,” says Christina, 21. “A lot of people are surprised that young people are involved in something like intergenerational projects. They think young people are selfish, so it is nice to know there are people who appreciate us. A lot of young people are out there doing really great things, but people don’t know about it.” Christina won an award for her involvement in The Sixty Plus intergenerational programme, which tries to bridge the gap between young and old people by getting local sixth formers to work as volunteers to help support older residents, for example by reading to them. “I didn’t expect to win an award, but that was a real bonus,” she says. “As a youngster sometimes you need that extra push and encouragement. A lot of the time young people are looked down on or seen as a nuisance.” Since winning the award Christina, who is now studying biology at university, has stayed involved with the Philip Lawrence Awards Network and is proud to be ambassador for the Midlands and London.
www.philiplawrenceawards.net
Winner in 2006 Lisa, 24, is part of a group that provides advice and education about the realities of becoming a young parent through presentations in schools, colleges and youth clubs. “We don’t tell them, ‘Don’t do it’. We just tell them that we had babies at a young age and these are the problems we have encountered, such as housing and money and relationships,” says Lisa, who had her son when she was 19 and also has a six-month-old. “We think it’s better that we tell them rather than their teachers reading something from a textbook. We are on their level, so they can feel more comfortable with us.” Lisa gained a public speaking and peer mentoring NVQ as part of the project and now as a Philip Lawrence Awards ambassador she hopes to use her peer mentoring experience in other ways. “I want to be able to go into schools and youth clubs in my area and talk to them about the awards and hopefully get some feedback about groups that may be worthy of a Philip Lawrence Award.” The award has helped the group apply for other funding and it is now looking to train young parents from other areas to run similar projects.
The ambassadors represent PLAnet around the country, acting as spokespeople and role models for young people. If you want to get in touch with the ambassador for your region, or invite them to speak to young people in your area, please contact philiplawrenceawards@catch-22.org.uk PLAnet 2010 // 05
every y a w e h t f step o Previous winner Jen Black explains how young people help to shape every stage of the Philip Lawrence Awards and how it can be a life-changing experience for those involved
More than 1,200 young people have received Philip Lawrence Awards since 1997. The awards recognise the good work young people do in their Jen Black communities, challenging the notion that young people are just out to cause trouble. One of the reasons PLAnet is so special is the involvement of young people. Every September, previous winners gather to judge the latest entries. This has taken many forms, from weekend residential breaks in Birmingham, to day-long events at the Home Office. But wherever the judging takes place, the young judges are looking to find groups working within communities, making a difference and tackling stereotypes head on. Reading about what other groups across the UK are doing is a very rewarding experience and one that all the judges take seriously. Winning an award not only gives the young people a sense of achievement and recognition, but it also helps groups to develop and reach out to more people in their community. When I won an award, I wasn’t sure why. During my senior years at secondary school, I was part of a paired reading club where I would help junior pupils whose reading age was below average. I sat with my partner for two lunchtimes a week and we would read together. Over the course of the school year, in some cases, the reading age of these pupils improved dramatically. I didn’t really understand why I deserved an award, because I viewed the club as a way to give something back to the school. But now I can see exactly why we were picked – they saw what I now see in other groups.
The ceremony Each year a ceremony is held to recognise the amazing work of the award winners. The day has changed as the awards have grown and developed. Some changes have been simple, such as the kind of music that is used. Others
06 // PLAnet 2010
have been more major, such as a change of venue. Last year’s ceremony was held at Bafta, right next to Piccadilly Circus, where we held the first ever award ceremony. The whole event was very grand and afterwards there was a sit-down lunch, which had never been tried before. Changes like these all contribute to the awards experience and it shows the determination of the charity, supporters, ambassadors and fellowship to make the awards bigger and better every year. Previous award winners are also on hand throughout the day to help out, answer questions and make sure everyone has fun. There is a range of people who are big supporters of the awards, including the Home Office, the Department for Education, Sir Trevor McDonald and the Duchess of Kent. There is always a great atmosphere as we celebrate the achievements of the groups.
More than an award Unlike many awards schemes, the Philip Lawrence Awards experience doesn’t just end with the trip to London and trophy. It is just the beginning. The young award winners leave the day with an invitation to be part of an extraordinary group of people. Every year there is a residential weekend, which gives the ambassadors a chance to get together and also welcome the new winners. This year the event was held in Birmingham. The best way I can describe PLAnet is that it is like a family. We all are very different but when we come together we all have one thing in common: we help to make a difference in our communities. The weekends are also a chance to put forward our ideas and opinions about the way PLAnet is run. We look at what is working and what needs to change. This is an important role as founder Frances Lawrence has a strong belief that these are our awards and we should have a say in how they are managed. Most importantly, it is an opportunity for us all to come together, which is very special.
on the residential king friends from other areas The fellowship have fun ma
rs ssadors and winne ks between amba lin en th ng re st mes Team building ga
The best way I can describe PLAnet is that it is like a family www.philiplawrenceawards.net
Every young person is capable of greatness; we just need to encourage them
The role of ambassadors Every former winner of a Philip Lawrence Award becomes part of the fellowship, an inspiring and diverse group of young people. Ambassadors are former winners selected to represent PLAnet around the country. They act as role models to encourage young people to get involved in their local communities. The ambassadors have a responsibility not only to coach and mentor the fellowship but also to promote PLAnet around the country. There are so many great groups that don’t know about the work of PLAnet, so it is important to find ways to spread the message and get as many people involved as possible. Recently, my fellow ambassador Donna Wilson and I went to a parliamentary reception hosted by the Scottish first minister Alex Salmond to celebrate the work of five Scottish children’s charities. The event gave us a chance to speak to likeminded people and promote the awards and the work we are doing. As an ambassador, it is important to make people realise what is so special about these awards. The chance of a lifetime The Philip Lawrence Awards have opened a lot of doors for me. I have a degree in journalism and graduated in 2008 from Glasgow Caledonian University. I decided to take a year out and during that time I had the chance to spend a month working in London with the previous charity that managed the awards. I gained some hands-on experience for my future career but I also got to see how the awards are run. My understanding of the awards has grown and I now understand the challenges facing the management and how these are overcome. During my time in London, I represented the awards at the Houses of Parliament, promoted them at the Welsh Assembly and helped to organise the 2009 residential weekend. One of the most important things I have gained from being involved with PLAnet is
www.philiplawrenceawards.net
the people I have met. Frances is an incredible woman who is an inspiration to us all. The ambassadors are such a diverse bunch of people who continue to make me laugh and teach me things about myself. I am very lucky that many of the people who won in the same year as me have remained involved. We all have shared the same experience that instantly connects us. Although weekends, judging and the ceremony are the main times we all get together, it doesn’t stop us meeting up at other times of the year. I was in Manchester celebrating a friend’s birthday and my fellow award winner, Bes, didn’t hesitate in joining us. Likewise, I know if he visits Glasgow he won’t think twice about calling me. I am so passionate about the work that the awards and the ambassadors are doing, I want everyone to hear about it and get involved. Hopefully through this magazine you will have gained an insight into what PLAnet is all about. Every young person is capable of greatness; we just need to encourage them.
ge new applications
Previous winners jud
net Young people represent PLA
for the awards
r at events throughout the yea
It is important to spread the message and get as many people involved as possible
of the young people involved s have opened doors for many The Philip Lawrence Award
PLAnet 2010 // 07
Winning groups will get: An invitation to the glamorous awards ceremony in London National and local recognition for their great work Acknowledged as young leaders Opportunity to be part of the PLAnet fellowship and take part in a range of exciting activities A short film about their project £1,000 to spend on their project
fame & fortune!
Tell us about young people using energy and creativity to improve their lives or the lives of others.
The Philip Lawrence Awards reward and support young people aged between 11 and 20 who are taking a lead and making a difference. From tackling issues like bullying and antisocial behaviour to improving their communities and having fun, young people are a force for good.
young pe
Tell us what young people are doing and why it matters. Closing date: 15 September 2010
HOW TO ENTER Visit www.philiplawrenceawards.net for a nomination form and answer some simple questions about the project.
e h t e t Celebra gs n i h t t greoaple are doing
Thanks to our supporters
Funded and delivered by
Partners
2009 award winners Haringey Shed Youth Theatre www.haringeyshed.org
lawren www.philip
her t o t u o k Chec ts and get projec lved at invo ceawards.net
our shout
Philip Lawrence Award winners from 2009 have their say on the issues that matter most to them
Jenine Dee, 16
Jess Preddy, 15
have and stabbed by a gang and so “My brother has been robbed . out be to not en it’s dark I try three other people I know. Wh hour or ry eve and ate around the est We have community police all ting get be to ms see it through, but so there are police vans coming right the in d chil ir the o need to lead worse. It’s down to parents wh ng they ’t know what their child is doi direction, although if they don can’t really be blamed. the Fawcett Estate in I am part of a youth group on e it Hackney, which is good becaus ng you for can create a distraction the ut abo people. We made a film relationship that young people have with the police. a Kids who are hooded up and in get can dy big group and row they stopped by the police, even if g thin any ng doi ly are not actual to ng tryi just are ice wrong. The pol get n dre chil but e, saf keep people are angry if they feel like the police gs.” thin ng doi from m the stopping Jenine (left) wants to end gang violence by offering young people positive activities
cliffe, 20
James Sut
I was put into a special “I have dyslexia and at school didn’t mix with the centre. I felt very isolated. We ons with them and other pupils, we didn’t have less Es. GCS we weren’t even allowed to do ly bullied – it was bad lly On top of all that I was rea l like I had fee n’t did homophobic bullying – and I anyone I could talk to. tures, which gives Groups such as Yorkshire Mix xual and bise , gay , advice to young lesbian ant. I really ort imp so transgender people are 10 // PLAnet 2010
“I got involved in my local youth forum because there were things that were bothering me and I wanted to be able to get my views across. There was an incident where a 10-year-old boy dropped a bottle of milk by accident, and the shopkeeper shouted at him and made him cry. Another young person was there and he g stood up for the boy. There was a row and Jess (left) doesn’t believe adults take youn the police turned up, and the young person people as seriously as they should ended up with an Asbo. The police didn’t listen to our side of the story at all. There is a minority of young people who behave badly and everyone assumes that all young people behave like that and don’t give us the benefit of the doubt. Young people get a bad label. In the villages there are youth forums, and one person from each youth forum comes onto the youth council to represent their views. I think it’s really important to listen to young people’s views. Young people have a lot to contribute – just look at all the Philip Lawrence Award winners – they are so diverse and so inspirational.”
suffered at school and I want to make things better for other people. We are the only project like this in our area and we’ve got loads of people wanting to come so more projects are needed. I wrote a play based on a true story of a friend who was bullied because he was gay. His mum didn’t understand, his teachers James has written a play exploring the couldn’t do anything and in the end he had consequences of homophobic bullying nowhere to turn except to kill himself. Some teachers don’t know how to deal with homophobic bullying. I don’t think it’s because they are homophobic, but it is perhaps something alien to them and they don’t know what to do so they just shrug it off.” www.philiplawrenceawards.net
d, 15
oo Dee Horw
7
Mark Howard, 1
“My best friend is from Albania. He lost his mum and dad; he doesn’t know if they have died or not. He then had to move to Kosovo and got split up from his three brothers. He came to England when he was 11 and was put into a foster family. The next day he was put into a local school. He didn’t speak English, but now he is head chef at one of the best restaurants in Folkestone. It shows that if you want to get somewhere you can do it, but you need the self-belief and support. There is quite a big Roma population in Folkestone and I am part of the Crosscultures project, which helps integrate them into the community. The first thing we try to do is to get them a safe place to go off the street. And we make music together, too. It takes a long time to build respect within their community; they have suffered a lot of abuse on the streets, so it is hard for them to welcome people in. They have been through a lot and are just trying to protect the last bit of identity they have. It’s not just a question of chucking them in a room with people from Folkestone. We live in such a multinational world; it’s hard to believe that people used to think people were different because of a different skin colour. I don’t see how people can’t accept other cultures, but there is still a lot of arrogance out there.”
“People have a really negative perception of young people – they think teenagers just want to hang around and cause trouble – but in my Dee says young pe eyes it’s because there’s ople need places open ev ery weeknight w not actually much for here they can ch ill out teenagers to do in the local area. Youth clubs are somewhere sometimes not open every night and you need fun. have to go so you can just chillax and r-18s can play I help organise a mini-music session where unde al with loads festiv c musi big a is there once a month. Once a year us that it has reduced of singers and dancers. The police have told hanging around and crime and antisocial behaviour like drinking, that it’s on. When we littering by 23 per cent locally on the nights were told that, I thought it was amazing. Anyone can come along; it doesn’t matter what age you are or from what background. I’m really proud of the fact that it is making a difference. It shows that if you try you can make a difference and you can make things better.”
Alex Wingrove, 13 Mark (centre) is helping to break down barriers between different communities
Your shout Have your say on the issues that matter to you on the PLAnet blog or Facebook page www.philiplawrence awards.net www.facebook.com/ PhilipLawrenceAwards
“People probably think that young people are a mess and just cause trouble, but really there is not enough to do. So we might make noise and stuff, but it’s just because we are trying to have a good time. I am involved in organising gigs with local bands as part of a group called Youth 4 Youth. I can’t play an instrument; I can’t even sing, but I help with the techie side of things like the lights and sound. Really that’s the only thing there is to do in the area. Otherwise I would either be at home on the computer or in town wasting my money. My friends at school think it’s a bit boring and weird that I am involved like this; they would rather be on their Xbox. For some reason, though, I like helping people. That’s why I’m on the school council too. I think it’s really important; otherwise the school would decide everything. But we can say if there are problems and say what we want to happen. Recently we have said what we think about tutors because although some form tutors are really good, like helping with mentoring, some just take the register and then go and check their emails. We’ve been raising money for Dame Kelly Holmes’ charity, and then the other day she came to open our sports hall. It was great to get to meet her.”
Alex (left) likes to get involved with organising gigs for young people in his area www.philiplawrenceawards.net
PLAnet 2010 // 11
Where are they now?
After winning a Philip Lawrence Award in 1999, Steve Procter has gone on to open his own youth venue and continues to be involved with the PLAnet fellowship
I
t’s easy to give young people a pat on the back and say “didn’t you do well”, says former Philip Lawrence Award winner Steve Procter. “But having a national pat on the back is quite world changing, I know it was for me.” Steve, 31, won an award in 1999, after he and a group of friends set up a skate park in the small market town of Clitheroe. They enlisted the help of youth workers, persuaded the council to give them a piece of land and managed to raise £30,000 worth of funding. More than 10 years later, the park is going strong and has recently had a £300,000 rebuild. “At first we were just seen as a bunch of kids complaining, but now the town wouldn’t be seen without the park,” says Steve. “There wasn’t anywhere acceptable that young people could just stand around, doing what young people do. But now adults see it as a place where youngsters can just be.” Winning the award had a massive impact on Steve, helping him realise that young people can make things happen and giving him the chance to meet others with shared experiences who helped him see it “wasn’t geeky to care about the community”. But the real turning point came when Philip Lawrence’s widow Frances Lawrence asked Steve to be on the judging panel for the following year’s awards. “I put across the argument that there needed to be more young people involved in the judging. They said, ‘That’s a good idea, you sort it out’.” So he did. He came up with the idea that previous winners could get involved in subsequent awards, an idea that has spiralled over the years so that today young people are involved not only in shortlisting the entries and sitting on the judging panel, but also take part in winners’ weekends and act as ambassadors for the awards. “When I wrote my original plan, I stressed that it mustn’t just stop with a tokenistic involvement of young people,” he says. “Over the years young people’s involvement has increased; young people have to want to be involved and choose to stay in contact without being forced.”
12 // PLAnet 2010
Award winner: Steve Procter
There is an energy about the awards and a sense of belonging
Meanwhile, as well as remaining involved with the awards, Steve went on to do a course in youth work before working on various youth community projects, including running the local council youth centre. But, frustrated by the restrictions imposed on him by his employers, five years ago he opened his own youth venue, built from scratch on a shoestring budget in a previously derelict building. “A lot of things about the system of traditional youth provision put up barriers for young people,” he says. “One of the frustrations was that everything had to be measurable. “Here, if young people just want to come in and put their feet up, they are very welcome to; what they do here doesn’t have to be connected to a learning outcome. I understand why they exist, but they can scare young people back out the door.” Entry is free – the centre is funded largely by profits from a children’s indoor play centre that runs as a social enterprise alongside – and young people have been at the heart of the centre from day one, with retired tradesmen teaching young people, many of them excluded from school, how to do plastering, plumbing and decorating. “We had an 83-year-old retired builder telling stories from the war, working alongside
young people talking about the top 40,” he recalls. “It was fantastic.” The centre now attracts up to 2,000 young people every week – impressive for a town with a population of just 22,000. As well as a juice bar, pool tables and internet access, there is a variety of support services, including a nurses’ clinic, volunteers’ project, sexual health sessions and support for young people who are excluded from school. Steve believes in the importance of getting young people involved in their local communities, and celebrating that. “Nothing has really changed over the past 10 years. Young people are still seen as troublemakers,” he says. “The only difference I’ve seen is that young people are starting to believe it themselves. They are much more tuned into the discussion that is happening in the media and starting to feel guilty and depressed about it.” Winning the award affected the entire town, says Steve, instilling “a belief that if you open your mouth, good things can happen”. Today he, like other winners from across the country, rem ains in close contact with the fellowship. “There is an energy about the awards and a sense of belonging, of being part of something,” he says. “Everyone wants to belong to something.” Nancy Rowntree
www.philiplawrenceawards.net
S ’ R NDE U FO S T H G U O H T Previous award winner , Anna-Nina Koduah, 16 interviews Philip Lawrence’s widow Frances about why the awards bearing his name are needed
image of frances lawrence to come
Founder: Frances Lawrence
Q
It’s incredibly sad what happened to your husband. Can you tell me about why you set up the awards in his name? When Philip was murdered, there was an outpouring of talk about gang culture and youth violence, as if every young person was as bad as the one who killed my husband. I didn’t want Philip’s death to be the catalyst for this vitriol. He had spent his life helping young people, drawing out their potential and convincing them that, whatever their lives were like currently, they could go on to achieve great things. That was his life’s work and I wanted somehow to make sure that wasn’t killed when he was. Who are the Philip Lawrence Awards aimed at? The awards were created to celebrate all young people who are involved in a positive way in their community, or who would like to be. In particular, anyone who feels they’ve been doing some good but have had no praise, so they might feel, “Well, what’s the point?” I recall a time when I was talking about the awards on television. With me was a young man who had won an award. He gave a great interview, but when I asked him if his family would be watching, he told me that they had said, “What have you ever done?” The thing is, if you’re told that you are worthless, then you begin to believe it. If people scorn your best efforts, then you wonder why you’re bothering.
A
Q A
www.philiplawrenceawards.net
Young people who are up against such destructive attitudes are the ones we try to reach. What do you think the awards have done to help the community? I hear from many people who say that they used to feel scared of young people in their areas, but after they set up their projects and won a Philip Lawrence Award, they started looking at them in a different way and they weren’t seen as a threat anymore. To give a specific example, one of our first award winners, whose main focus was challenging racism through football, also did lots of work at street level. One thing they did was to put window boxes outside houses all along a street in their neighbourhood. This made a rather grim London street look better, but the far greater benefit was that people started coming out of their houses to tend the boxes, and began talking to their neighbours who they’d never talked to before; they’d had no idea who lived next door to them. These young people had made a real difference. They broke down the barriers between generations. They brought people together. What is your vision for the awards in the future? I’d like our previous winners, like yourself, to work as mentors so that other young people think, “I’d like to do something like that”. I’d like to be proactive in areas where there is little community spirit, and for previous
Q A
Q A
Whatever era we live in, when we’re young, we all want to do very similar things
winners to encourage young people living there to start their own projects. I believe the most important thing any of us can do is to try to connect with other people. We’re all different, we have different dreams – and that’s great. A world where everyone is the same would be terribly dull. But all too often a difference becomes a conflict. Do you feel the youth of today are different from past generations? Whatever era we live in, when we’re young, we all want to do very similar things. Growing up is a process of exploring life and of finding our own independent way through it. I can’t see that I was any different to the young people I meet today. Congratulations on receiving an MBE. How did it feel receiving it? That did present me with some difficulties. I took a long time to decide whether or not to accept it because I’m not sure quite how I feel about the whole honours system. But then I realised that the award was not actually about me. It was about all of you. I’m not the one doing great things in our communities, making them safer and happier. You and all our winners are the ones who do that and I accepted it on behalf of you all. It’s for everyone who has grown up within the fellowship and for those who will join in the future. If I could, I would give a piece of it to each of you.
Q A Q A
PLAnet 2010 // 13
every young person IS capable OF greatness
The search is under way to find the 2010 PLAnet winners. Find out here what PLAnet is about and how your youth project can enter this year’s awards
Philip Lawrence
“Philip Lawrence’s belief that ‘every young person is capable of greatness’ is central to the Philip Lawrence Awards Network (PLAnet). And it’s true, I’ve seen it,” says Joëlle McNichol, who works with young PLAnet winners at Catch22. “We’ve seen groups of young people, often from tough areas or tough backgrounds, getting together to make a change for themselves. They get so much out of it too: new skills, confidence, friends for life and the kind of experiences that help them take positive steps onto the jobs ladder. We also want them to take the opportunity to challenge those negative public perceptions of young people. “Young people get extremely frustrated about their negative public perception and we know they have an enormous amount of energy and commitment to get involved with positive activities and community projects. So PLAnet helps young people redress the balance and shine the spotlight on their positive contributions.”
Any group of young people can enter
It was an honour to win because we achieved something and finally got our voice across
Young people at its heart Since the Philip Lawrence Awards began in 1997, young people have always been at the heart of the awards and have been involved throughout – from going through each entry and deciding winners to selecting who should perform at the awards ceremony. This year, former winners and now our ambassadors, are setting the agenda even more. We’ve just returned from a residential at NASUWT teaching union headquarters with past winners. They’ve planned with us an extended programme of activity for 2010,
14 // PLAnet 2010
Leah Greenaway, 13, winner of a Philip Lawrence Award
including regional workshops and a summer media campaign. And, most importantly, throughout the year they will be searching out new and interesting work from young people, encouraging groups to take their next steps and sharing their own experiences as part of peer mentoring. Their commitment doesn’t go unrecognised – in return we’re accrediting their work by offering a range of training in such areas as media, presentation and project management skills. “We’re a small team”, says Joëlle, “and we’re trying to reach out to young people and those who work with young people to encourage them to get involved in their area. And we have great support from our funders the Home Office and the Department for Education. Philip’s widow Frances Lawrence is very involved too and provides a guiding light to our work, keeping it true to the fundamental ethos that every young person is capable of greatness. Our other partners NASUWT, Children
& Young People Now and more recently Fearless, the youth strand of Crimestoppers, help us to reach out and share these important opportunities to get young people involved.
So how do you get involved? For the first time, this year not only can young people nominate themselves or others for an award, but they can join the wider PLAnet of young people to share experiences, get ideas, profile the work that they are involved in, make new friends and gain new skills. “We created the network because we wanted to make PLAnet open to any young people who want to make a difference, whether they are part of an established group, or just beginning to set up a project and looking for inspiration,” says Joëlle. It’s easy to get involved. Set up a simple project profile on our website, have your say on our blog, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and keep up-todate with what we’re doing (see box).
www.philiplawrenceawards.net
ENTER THE AWARDS
Winners of the 2009 awards celebrate
stay in touch! with and . .. r k... e t t i tw faceboo www.twitter.com/ www.facebook.com/ PLAwards PhilipLawrenceAwards
be
or youtu
www.youtube.com/ PhilipLawrence Awards
Don’t forget, the search is on for the stars of the 2010 awards. We’re looking for groups of young people who are taking a lead, proving they can make a fantastic contribution in their communities. Ten winning groups will be presented with a trophy at a glittering ceremony in December, and each will receive £1,000 to spend on furthering their work. For many groups, it is the satisfaction and kudos of having their work recognised that means the most, boosting confidence and giving young people the impetus to carry on making a difference. Others have said that winning an award helped them to be taken seriously, secure further funding, and take their project to the next level. One young winner, Leah Greenaway, 13, from Fawcett Youth Group, says: “It was an honour to win the award because we achieved something and finally got our voice across.” The awards are open to groups of young people aged from 11 to 20 from all over the UK. Any group can enter, whether it is part of a school, youth club or other programme, or independent.
Previous winners have been recognised for a wide range of projects: challenging negative stereotypes; countering crime, violence, bullying and racism; improving their environments; celebrating diversity, and building bridges between generations, faiths and cultures. There are no set categories, but all our winners demonstrate passion and energy and have young people at the heart of their work. To be in with a chance of winning an award for your group, along with £1,000 towards its project, visit www.philip lawrenceawards.net for a nomination form to complete online or download, and answer five simple questions about the project. You don’t need to give pages of information and detailed evidence, just tell us what young people are doing and why it matters. PLAnet ambassador Donna Wilson, a 2003 winner and part of the youth judging panel, says: “I always enjoy reading comments from young people and from the people that the project aims to help, it shows what they get out of the project and why they are involved.” For top tips from our youth judging panel on writing a strong nomination, visit: www.philiplawrenceawards.net
advertisement feature
www.philiplawrenceawards.net
PLAnet 2010 // 15
d e s i n g o c e r t e G eople doing great things young p
et
.n s rd a w a e c n re w la ip il h .p w Enter the awards at ww
Partners Funded and delivered by
Thanks to our supporters
Editor Ravi Chandiramani Deputy editor Andy Hillier Production editor Colin Hamilton Senior art editor David McCullough Advertising director Andrea Thomas Production controller Allen Beattie Associate publisher Donna Murphy Publishing director Richard Watts Chief executive Kevin Costello Subscriptions subscriptions@haymarket.com; 08451 55 73 55. PLAnet is published by Haymarket Business Media Ltd, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP Š Haymarket Business Media Ltd 2010. Typeset by Colour Systems. Printed by Lynhurst Press