In my first episode, Simon Evan-Cook made a prediction that the effects of cuts to social services made years ago will start to manifest themselves with higher crime rates in the coming decade. This latest conversation with Franklin Shillingford gave me faith that there are people on the front line working tirelessly to address this. Frank is Club Leader at Crown & Manor which is situated in Hackney. His team provides much needed mentorship, stability, safety, and real-world skills to the borough’s youth most in need of positive role models.
I’ve been reading Henry George of late (watch this space). He argues that economic progress brings its own type of poverty which is masked by gentrification and nowhere is this more the case than Hackney. Having grown up in Stoke Newington Frank has dedicated many years of his life in unglamorous service to youth work. Our conversation woke-me up to challenges facing society today and I heard some of the most moving stories of potential being unlocked in kids. Potential that would remain hidden were it not for the work of under-resourced leaders.
It’s rare to meet people who have soul in the game, particularly when the domain is as emotionally testing and unremunerative as youth work. For the rest-of us - out of sight – out of mind is an MO we are all guilty of employing. My conversation with Frank reminded me that we all have a responsibility to the next generation but also gave me hope through tangible case studies that if we dedicate a small amount of our bandwidth to charities such as the Crown and Manor Club life changing benefits can be reaped. I hope you enjoy the podcast as much as we did in making it.
You can find more information on the Crown and Manor Club here: https://www.crownandmanor.org.uk/.
