The community project

Brent Case Study

StreetChance in Brent found an unlikely home in 2009 on a portion of the indoor running track at Willesden Sports Centre. Having built strong links with local schools, the project soon developed a strong and diverse core of youngsters who have grown together over time.

Mustaba Faisi, a fifteen year old participant known to the group as ‘Mushy’, was one of the first to attend. He admits to “standing around shop corners doing nothing, just waiting for the next thing to do” and found his lack of options and boredom sometimes led him to indulge in graffiti and criminal damage. Fortunately for Mushy, StreetChance became the next thing to do, and his commitment to the project and natural leadership skills has given him focus whilst giving younger participants an ideal role model.

As a StreetChance Young Ambassador, Mushy represents the views of his fellow participants at regular steering groups and meetings. He has since enrolled in the StreetChance Coaching Apprenticeship, combining school with working towards coaching badges and gaining vital work experience. His coach Alex Bassan believes that

“although he still has far to go and a lot to learn, if he keeps going he will achieve so much more than he ever thought he could.”

As well as support from Mushy, Alex has benefitted from the help of Donald Doku, a 21 year old local lad who offers his spare time each week within the StreetChance Volunteer Programme as a Team Manager, offering assistance and another positive role model for the youngsters.

Amongst the older group of participants are younger faces such as 13 year olds Hrithik and Rohit, desperate to imitate their hero, Indian international Suresh Raina. Before StreetChance they found no outlet for their cricketing passion and few like-minded individuals to play with. Despite the age differences they relish the challenge of bowling and batting against the older boys.

Though at first the older boys were not so welcoming of the younger group, the coach and PC Steve Sweeney tackled the problem effectively, delivering workshops on bullying and dealing with awkward situations amongst peers. Now the session has its own code of conduct, devised by the participants and strictly adhered to by all.

PC Sweeney often talks to youngsters as they wait to bat, covering topics such as stop and search, knife crime and the allure of joining a gang and its problematic consequences. One boy in particular that he knew to have been in trouble with the police has built a good rapport with him, and PC Sweeney explains that

“he has asked me all sorts of questions about law and the police and has answers that he might never have got if StreetChance was not here.”

Generally, he has found a change in attitude amongst young people away from the session since he began attending regularly:

“Young people talk to me and say hello, even in front of their friends. This would have been a difficult thing for them to do in the past due to peer pressure”

With the Brent Community session having all the components of a successful project, it is no wonder that the Brent boys find themselves more often than not collecting medals at competitions and enjoy their cricket together in a harmonious environment every week.