Think Outside The Blox

Who We Are - Think Outside The Blox

Our Vision

Think Outside The Blox' is a campaign of unity, positivity and education to help inspire the young people of London to see beyond the danger and destructiveness of gangs and knife crime and realise a better future for themselves.

Bobby Kasanga is a reformed gang member turned social philanthropist and all around community hero. He is the founder of London’s leading community football club, Hackney Wick FC. As a former gang member who served time in prison, he decided to repay his community by establishing Hackney’s first ever semi-professional football team.

Hackney Wick FC is run by volunteers and comprises of 230 active players across 18 teams of differing age groups. Their ethos is based on community engagement and uniting diverse groups, as well as battling peer pressure and tackling gang influences. They engage with those already involved in gangs, those on the brink of gang life and those who might not be aware of the associated risks of gangs, through training, fitness, and playing football, while also offering educational workshops, sporting opportunities, mentoring and access-to-work routes.

'Think Outside The Blox' is Kasanga’s brainchild but the campaign has been developed in partnership with local Hackney Wick design agency HeyBigMan!, a company that also has a strong community ethos.

The anti-youth violence initiative is designed to improve the lives and outlooks of underprivileged young Londoners, through a series of programmes delivered through this unique football club. Unlike previous campaigns around this subject that have a tendency to be dark, solemn and sometimes hard hitting, TOTB will exude an uplifting message of positivity and inspiration.

Mayor of london summer programme fund ambassador

Mayor announces £2 million investment package in a series of summer activities to tackle violence and provide a helping hand for thousands of young people

Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit provides funding for diversionary opportunities as evidence shows young people are most vulnerable to exploitation and violence during school holidays
Activities are targeted in areas of the capital most affected by violence
Range of opportunities in sport, music production and employment funded to keep young safe and supported to thrive this summer

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced his Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has invested £2 million in a package of activities and targeted interventions this summer to divert thousands of young people away from violence by providing access to positive opportunities.

The Mayor is committed to tackling violence and has provided investment for his VRU to fund hundreds of activities and opportunities in training and employment for young people in greatest need of support. The package of activities, ranging from sport to music production to mentoring, will work to support young people during the summer when evidence shows they are more vulnerable to exploitation and to violence.

The VRU, set up and funded by the Mayor to lead an approach to tackling violence that is rooted in prevention and early intervention, has funded grassroots organisations, charities and local authorities, to provide access to support and positive things to do for young people in areas of the capital most affected by violence.

We took one of our young people to a networking event to help him to Think Outside The Blox. Young musician Reece, who came out of prison 10 months ago was able to mingle and chat with a bunch of A List stars including former boxing champion Anthony Joshua who awarded hin £500 towards his music studio sessions. Reece said "Never in my wildest dreams would I believe that I would meet Anthony Joshua let alone that he'd speak to me and give me money. . This is crazy. I saw many people I only see on the TV such as Kano and Tion Wayne".

The evening was a fun poker night to launch Anthony Joshua's new initiative at supporting black businesses