Throughout the year we want to celebrate Young Partners for their achievements and highlight their success.
At Peer Power Youth we build on people’s strengths and create hope for a future where they can realise their dreams and live their best life .
Rico, Young Partner has positively impacted the NHS Violence Reduction Programme, been instrumental in co-producing Peer Power Youth’s first podcast and has been elected as for Young Labour in the Hertfordshire area.
“My life really changed towards the end of 2021 and it got progressively better in 2022 and I guess that was about me watching my surroundings, the people I was hanging around with and controlling my temper.
Since I joined Peer Power Youth I have managed to control it, and being at Peer Power Youth led me to getting an opportunity. It was Peer Power Youth who built that connection with Barra, Training Development Manager at the radio station at Bloomsbury Institute London and that built a foundation for me.
I was presented with the opportunity to host my own podcast at Bloomsbury Institute London talking about the political state of the country and inviting my friend Strilly. My first politically guest was Cllr Katy Thompson and that’s when Bloomsbury noticed my potential. I was surprised and fortunate enough to get a Law Scholarship at Bloomsbury Institute and an unconditional offer to Buckingham University. After having conversations with my peers, I accepted and it’s been really good.”
Rico on his involvement with the NHS London Violence Reduction Academy, presenting at the launch.
“The Violence Reduction Programme has changed my mindset. Before I joined Peer Power Youth, I didn’t have that much trust in the NHS. I didn’t want to ask for help, and I didn’t know how I would raise a complaint. And now I do.
Being part of the Violence Reduction programme, I’ve realised how powerful the programme is, and how many lives it can improve, from all different walks of life.
On the day of the launch of Violence Reduction Academy, I was pleased to hear how the programme is working to reach people from neurodiverse backgrounds as that is important to me.”
Rico being elected for Young Labour:
Recently, I was elected as the ‘Ethnic Minorities Officer’ for Young Labour in the Hertfordshire area. I feel like they wanted someone from London who has that experience when it comes to living in a diverse community and the learning and understanding of different cultures.
One of the things that I addressed to the officials, is something that I picked up from Peer Power Youth, that a lot of young people don’t like the term ‘ethnic minorities’. We’re working on replacing it with something that’s more suitable for different communities.
Something that I’m hoping to achieve in this position is bringing more people together from different religions and cultures so they can celebrate each other’s difference, whilst learning something new.”
Peer Power Youth
Peer Power Youth is a national charity that does vital work to support young people dealing with trauma.
We care for young people, sometimes at the most difficult times in their lives, and we give them the time they need, for as long as they need.
We build on strength and lead with empathy, which means that we know what’s needed to build trusted relationships and improve support services, because many of us have had similar experiences.
You can support us here.
Keep up with the latest on empathy, co-production and youth-led system change.
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