Black Business 4 Black Youth is an independent collaborative community project run by The Salam Project and Save Our Boys. The aim of the initiative is to give vocational and business mentoring to young Black (African/Afro Caribbean/Somali / Dual Heritage) British youths aged between 14 – 26 years old. This project aims to build confidence, raise aspiration and promote positive Black British role models. Due to the over representation of Black youths in the criminal justice system, youth offending institutions, county lines participation and being involved in knife crime Black Business 4 Black Youth is targeted to be a solution to the problem.
All of the business owners are DBS checked, due diligence checked and thoroughly assessed. Due to Covid 19 most of the work placements are done remotely via Zoom, Skype, Google Hang-Outs, Face Time and Social Media.
The businesses who have pledged to give work experience to young Black youths are Mula Cake Clothing, Sterling Law, TT720 Law, BWTM Media, K Accountancy Services, Demicon Engineering, Nu Empire Media, CPD Online, Sincere Response, Ultra Education, Emotional Insight, Greach Creative Arts and Talk About Black (A City of London Financial BAME services initiative)
Ismael Lea South of The Salam Project has stated:
‘This project is open for all Black youths from the good young people in school, college and university who would like to experience certain industries. I must also state that this project is also open for young ex-offenders, permanently excluded from school and young people who are going through a rough time.
Rakin Fetuga of Save Our Boys said:
‘This is a positive project during a crazy time and there are too many people shouting about the problems but not enough trying to work for the solutions. Black Business 4 Black Youth is a positive solution for our youths in communities.
This project is open for young people in London, Birmingham and Manchester Ismael Lea South (The Salam Project) and Rakin Fetuga (Save Our Boys) have been working in the anti-youth crime arena for over 15 years. They strongly believe mentoring, therapy, strong role models and opportunities are the solutions for challenging knife crime in communities. With regards to Black Lives Matter, they vehemently believe that the Black community should not be distracted by taking down statues or stopping out of date TV shows but should focus on dismantling institutionalised racism in society.
The Salam Project and Save Our Boys have been working in the field of anti-youth crime for over 15 years. Their work in the field of knife crime intervention, gang intervention and permanent exclusion has been consistent in communities.
For more information and to apply click here or contact 0753 874 0319 or email: [email protected]