James Bascoe-Smith: A Story of Resilience and Community Supp

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James Bascoe-Smith, a teenager from Brixton, London, endured a life-changing attack when he was stabbed in a random incident, leaving him with severe brain damage and paralysis. The violent assault forced him to spend over a year in the hospital, but his resilience and determination have inspired many.

James’ family has since been actively campaigning against knife crime while also raising funds for his ongoing medical treatment and therapy. Their efforts have drawn widespread support from the community and beyond.

In December 2024, Hackney Wick FC, in collaboration with Think Outside the Blox and Sit Up and Stand Up 2 Violence, organized a football match in James’ honor. The event aimed to raise funds for his treatment following his diagnosis with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. Players from Hackney Wick FC showed their solidarity by wearing Cancer Awareness jerseys provided by the North East Cancer Alliance, sending a powerful message of hope and unity.

James’ story is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of knife crime but also highlights the strength of community support in the face of adversity. His family continues to push for change, ensuring that no other young person has to endure a similar fate.

On 23rd December, we successfully hosted a community foodbank event at Northwold Community Hall, in partnership with The Felix Project and The Guinness Partnership. This initiative aimed to support vulnerable families during the festive season, particularly amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

The event saw an encouraging turnout from local residents, highlighting the significant need for such support within our community. Families and individuals were provided with essential food supplies, ensuring they could celebrate the holiday season with dignity and without the added burden of food insecurity.

Many families who attended expressed gratitude for the assistance during a challenging time. With rising costs of living, access to basic necessities like food has become increasingly difficult, and this initiative provided immediate relief to those in need.

The event fostered a sense of unity, bringing together residents, volunteers, and organizations to collectively address a pressing issue. It strengthened community bonds and underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to support one another.

The foodbank not only provided practical support but also highlighted the growing demand for such services. This serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable groups and the importance of sustaining these schemes in the future.

The event demonstrated the critical role of foodbank initiatives in addressing food insecurity and supporting families during difficult times. The collaboration with The Felix Project and The Guinness Partnership was instrumental in the event’s success, showcasing the power of partnerships in driving positive change.

As we continue to navigate the cost-of-living crisis, it is evident that initiatives like this are not only beneficial but essential. We remain committed to supporting our community and exploring further opportunities to alleviate hardship for those in need.

Thank you to all who contributed to making this event a success. Together, we made a meaningful difference in the lives of many families this Christmas.

Civilian delves into the life of Dean, a teenager caught in the crossfire between innocence and the dangerous allure of gang culture. As Dean pursues his passion for filmmaking, he inadvertently finds himself at the heart of a harrowing conflict that spirals out of control. Through a lens meant to capture joy, Dean’s journey exposes the perilous consequences of casual affiliations with those who live on the edge of the law. Civilian explores the precarious balance between everyday life and the shadowy realm of gangs, revealing how easily one can be pulled into the chaos of a world they never intended to enter.

A concerned mother messaged me concerned that her son had joined a gang and has been trying all she can to dissuade him. This was my 4th such call this month.   So we decided to document this conversation to speak with the youths to see what it is they’re going through and what options we can provide. This is with mums permission of course. So going forward we will be organising a forum and phone number parents can contact to seek help and organise preventative measures and opportunities that are our there for the young people  

Hackney Wick FC have recently teamed up with the North East London Cancer Alliance to spread awareness of their ‘It’s Not A Game’ campaign. The campaign not only aims to raise awareness but also to address some of the inequalities with the participation in cancer screening services and encourage presentations to GPs with concerning symptoms and improve health outcomes.

Prostate is the most common cancer affecting men in the UK. Prostate Cancer accounted for 26% of cancers diagnosed in men in 2017. Incidence of prostate cancer has increased over the last 30 years and is expected to increase by a further 12% by 2035. It is most common in Black men, followed by White men.

Using sport as an aid, It’s Not A Game helps to raise awareness of this and other Cancers (Bowel, Lung and Stomach) and is aimed predominantly at White and Black men from areas of north east London where screening uptake is low.

You may soon start to see materials that have been developed and themed around sport and featuring middle-aged and older men, to resonate with the target demographic. The campaign is not just football focused,  it includes other sports like Snooker, Rugby and Darts, to widen the awareness. If you see these materials and have symptoms, see your GP and when you receive a screening kit, do the test!

We have started running drama classes for the local community every Wednesday , where participants take pare in acting classes, improvisation, filming, editing and more to better enhance their skills in hope of pursuing a career in film.

We have over 40 people who have applied and they are now working towards creating 12 short films based on real events in London.  This is just another way we hope to create new opportunities for our service users.  Below was a casting event we held for the potential new cast.

We have teamed up with local bike hero Temi Lateef who runs My Choice organisation to provide up to 12 bikes for the local community of the Northwold Estate.  The bike are for all ages and will be stored at the community centre and can be rented out free of charge by the locals and residents.  We hope this encourages more exercise and healthy lifestyle within the area

London witnessed an extraordinary display of community spirit and youthful talent as the 32 Boro Cup unfolded over the weekend of Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23. Hosted by Teesside University Campus in Stratford, the event showcased the vibrant diversity and football passion of the city's boroughs.

The event kicked off on Saturday with a day dedicated to career workshops. The highlight was the participation of various organizations, including Wingstop, whose co-founder Herman Sahota engaged with the children, offering invaluable insights and motivation. Other esteemed guest speakers included Teddy Powell from Drop 3, Ryan Baily from Burnley FC, and Nathan Nicholas from Macro. These industry leaders shared their experiences and provided guidance, inspiring the young attendees to dream big and pursue their passions both on and off the pitch.

Kathryn Elliot, the Head of Partnership at Teesside University, played a crucial role in organizing and hosting the workshops, ensuring that the day was both informative and inspiring for all participants.

Sunday dawned with beautiful summer weather as 32 teams descended upon the Marshes, ready for a day of intense football competition. The atmosphere was electric, with dozens of scouts from across the country in attendance, eager to spot the next big talent.

The tournament progressed with thrilling matches, culminating in a highly anticipated final between Richmond and Barking. This final was particularly noteworthy as it guaranteed, for the first time since the tournament's inception, that a team not representing North London would claim the title. In a captivating match, Barking and Dagenham emerged victorious, bringing the trophy to East London.

Among the many highlights of the day was the remarkable achievement of the youngest player in the tournament, who caught the eye of scouts from a Category 1 team. This young talent's journey from local play to potential professional opportunities encapsulates the spirit and purpose of the 32 Boro Cup.

The 32 Boro Cup 2024 was more than just a football tournament; it was a celebration of community, diversity, and the boundless potential of young athletes. Through career workshops and competitive matches, the event succeeded in fostering a sense of unity and providing opportunities for the youth of London.

As the final whistle blew and the celebrations began, the legacy of the 32 Boro Cup was firmly cemented. The event not only crowned new champions but also inspired countless young players to pursue their dreams, both on and off the field.

Both Farel and Ashley who were with our under 12s and signed to Stevenage have been offered two more years at Stevenage which will take them to Under !4s.  This is an amazing achievement for the duo.  Think Outside The Blox will  continue to support the boys by taking them to training and matches as well as extra 1-2-1 sessions with Hackney Wick FC Coaches

Think Outside The Blox partnered with The FA to cast some of our members tor the official squad reveal of the England squad participating at The Euros.  The campaign went live a week before the competition started. and features 3 of our members and highlights another of the opportunities we provide and how we THINK OUTSIDE THE BLOX