For the young people of North Kensington, the announcement of lockdown in March 2020 was tough. With many families living in cramped, overcrowded accommodation with little outdoor space, this was a frustrating time for young people, particularly men and boys.
Rules about social distancing and not gathering in parks and open spaces were hard to follow and groups of young people were constantly being approached by the police in parks, who ordered them to disperse.
Baraka Community Association, a youth club local to North Kensington, works mainly with young people from ethnic minority backgrounds and especially the British-Somali community. With funding from John Lyon’s Charity, they offer educational support, field trips, advocacy and help young people find placements in apprenticeships and employment opportunities.
Baraka’s lead Youth Worker and Mentor, Mohammed ‘Mo’ Senhaji, saw clearly that lockdown was having a negative effect on the local young people the Charity is there to help. One of the first problems Mo noticed was the many young people who continued to gather in local parks in violation of the government’s social distancing guidelines. Mo remained in constant communication with these young people and explained to them the seriousness of the pandemic. He also realized that these young people needed activity and focus in their lives. Mo connected with the local authorities and gained approval from the local police for the introduction of a boxing youth club in the park. Throughout lockdown these physical, outdoor activities became a focus for young people and provided a safe environment for them to let off steam.
Now that normality is returning, Baraka is resuming its usual programme of activity and the park-based boxing club now has an indoor venue. Baraka is back doing what it does best – helping young people identify solutions to their problems and exploring ways in which their lives can be improved.