Source: Mail on Sunday, The {You}

Edition:
Country: UK
Date: Sunday 28, November 2010
Page: 36,37,3...
Area: 2639 sq. cm
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Phone: 020 7938 6000
Keyword: Diana Award

‘THEY WEREN’T
DIANAAWARDS

BORN BAD,
BUTTHEY WERE SUCKEDINTO
GANG CULTURE BECAUSE THEY
COULDN’T SEE AN ALTERNATIVE’
For more than a decade since the death of Princess Diana, an award scheme
set up in her name has celebrated the power of young people to change the
world. Catherine O’Brien talks to four of this year’s winners who have had to
confront some of the most terrifying threats in today’s society – gang violence
and knife crime. Their inspirational stories illustrate everyone’s potential to
become a force for good – even when faced with the most desperate odds
Photographs CHARLOTTE MURPHY and MARTIN HUNTER

THE KNIFE-CRIME CAMPAIGNERS after a night out. He jumped off

Plevna Road is much like any other side street in and was running down Plevna
North London. A stone’s throw from the shopping Road when his assailants
parade in Edmonton Green, it leads to a labyrinth caught up with him and
of residential streets, a health clinic and the local stabbed him repeatedly. He was pronounced
library. Getride Sukama Lumengo cannot dead shortly after being taken to hospital.
walk along its pavements, Henry was not the sort of victim who
however, without thinking of the easily evoked sympathy. Known as Black H,
dying moments of her friend he ran a gang called the Cage Boys and his
Henry Bolombi. death was undoubtedly down to gangland
Henry was 17 when, rivalry. To Getride, however, he was ‘funny
along with nine other Henry’, the close friend of her older brother
teenagers, he became Joe, who came to their house almost every
LQYROYHGLQDÀJKWRQDEXV

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day, where they watched football together and
fooled around.
‘He was a good guy who had gone down the
wrong path in life, because that is what happens
to boys around here,’ Getride says.
Three weeks after Henry
was killed, Getride was
walking home from school
when her elder sister Danielle
called to say that another boy
she knew, 18-year-old art and
design student Louis
Boduka, had been stabbed
and killed just a few hundred
yards away from the scene of
Henry’s death. ‘You hear
about street stabbings, but
you never think it is going to happen so close to
home,’ Getride says. ‘Then, after Henry and
Louis died, everyone was asking: “What are
the police doing about it?” But I started to think,
“What are we doing? It’s down to all of us to
take responsibility for what is happening.”’
With her best friend Mildred Edoukou, Getride
decided to launch Breakin’ the Cycle – a
ground-breaking campaign to halt knife crime.
Through school assemblies, they addressed their
fellow pupils about the futility and dangers of
gang culture. ‘We talked to everyone about Henry
and Louis as real people, rather than remote
victims,’ says Getride. ‘We explained what their
families had said about them at their funerals.
They weren’t born bad, but they were sucked into
gang culture because, around here, they couldn’t
see any alternative.’
Getride and Mildred’s thought-provoking
work, which also included distributing signature
T-shirts and key rings, has now been recognised
by a Diana Award. ‘These girls demonstrated not
only how to pursue a better path, but also how to
become positive leaders of tomorrow,’ said the
judges in their award citation.
7KHÀUVWWKLQJ\RXQRWLFHZKHQPHHWLQJ
Getride and Mildred is the strength of the bond
between them. Both are 18 and come from
families that have been hit by hardship. Getride,
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Mail on Sunday, The {You}
UK
Sunday 28, November 2010
36,37,3...
2639 sq. cm
ABC 2037232 Weekly
page rate £39,300.00, scc rate £230.00
020 7938 6000
Diana Award
the youngest of six children, lost her 48-year-old
father to a brain haemorrhage seven years ago.
Her mother doesn’t work and they live on
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parents are separated – her taxi driver father lives
in South London, her mother works in Tesco.
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¶+H·VZRUNLQJQRZDQGEHFDXVHKHLV
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Hannah, who nominated Getride and Mildred
IRUWKH'LDQD$ZDUGVD\V¶,WZDVDEUDYHVWDQG
Article Page 2 of 8
 Source: Mail on Sunday, The {You}
Edition:
Country: UK
Date: Sunday 28, November 2010
Page: 36,37,3...
Area: 2639 sq. cm
Circulation: ABC 2037232 Weekly
BRAD info: page rate £39,300.00, scc rate £230.00
Phone: 020 7938 6000
Keyword: Diana Award

WRWDNHDQGWKHUHFRXOGKDYHEHHQDEDFNODVK
%XWLQVWHDGWKH\JRWSHRSOHWDONLQJDQG
EHOLHYLQJWKDWWKLQJVGLGQ·WKDYHWREHWKLVZD\
1RRQHLVJRLQJWRHUDGLFDWHVWUHHWFULPH
RYHUQLJKWEXWWKH\KDYHRSHQHGWKHGLDORJXH·
*HWULGHDQG0LOGUHGVHFXUHG*&6(V
HDFKDQGDUHQRZVWXG\LQJIRU$OHYHOV
*HWULGHZDQWVWRGRDGHJUHHLQPDWKV0LOGUHG
LVLQWHUHVWHGLQDUFKLWHFWXUH(DFKZLOOEHWKH
ÀUVWLQWKHLUIDPLOLHVWRJRWRXQLYHUVLW\¶:LQQLQJ
the award has made us realise that people do
FDUHDQGZKDW\RXVD\GRHVFRXQW·VD\V
Getride. Mildred adds: ‘We have seen the
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IXWXUHEH\RQGWKLV7KHNH\WKLQJLVWRVXSSRUW
±
HDFKRWKHUJHWRQ\RXUIHHWDQGJRIRULW·

‘You hear about

street stabbings
but you never
think it is going
to happen so
close to home’

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 Source: Mail on Sunday, The {You}
Edition:
Country: UK
Date: Sunday 28, November 2010
Page: 36,37,3...
Area: 2639 sq. cm
Circulation: ABC 2037232 Weekly
BRAD info: page rate £39,300.00, scc rate £230.00
Phone: 020 7938 6000
Keyword: Diana Award

Mildred Edoukou (left)

and Getride Sukama
Lumengo want to bring
an end to street violence

YOU 28 NOVEMBER 2010

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 Source: Mail on Sunday, The {You}
Edition:
Country: UK
Date: Sunday 28, November 2010
Page: 36,37,3...
Area: 2639 sq. cm
Circulation: ABC 2037232 Weekly
BRAD info: page rate £39,300.00, scc rate £230.00
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Keyword: Diana Award

THE SPORTS COACH would have to walk most of the course, but I
Jonathan Pitcher raises his T-shirt to reveal two small
realised I could either become a victim and a
puncture marks on the lefthand side of his torso.
recluse, or get myself back out there.’
They are the only visible evidence that remains of the
Shortly after completing the fun run – and
random knife attack that could have so easily cost
coming a proud last – Jonathan returned to his
him his life little more than a year ago. ‘I thought I was
local hockey club where he had been one of the
streetwise – that I knew how to stay out of trouble –
top players. Although he was not yet well enough
but the one time I let my guard down, I came under
to play, he offered his services as a coach, working
attack,’ he says.
with the junior team – teenagers three or four years
In June 2009, Jonathan, then 17, was out with
younger than him. ‘Sport had always helped me
three friends – two girls and another boy – when,
steer clear of trouble, and I wanted to help other
XQZLWWLQJO\KHIRXQGKLPVHOILQWKHPLGVWRIDÀJKW
kids realise that they could have much more fun on
two miles from the quiet, residential street where he
the pitch than hanging out on the street. Teaching
OLYHVLQ(QÀHOG1RUWK/RQGRQ¶,WZDVHDUO\
WKHPQHZVNLOOVEXLOWXSWKHLUFRQÀGHQFHEXWLWDOVR
evening,’ he recalls. ‘One of my friends, Abi, had
made me feel better about myself.’
just passed her driving test and was taking us out.
What Jonathan didn’t know was that he was
Because she was inexperienced, she was driving
being watched closely by staff at Kingsmead
slowly. Another car came along, went to overtake
School, where he was an upper-sixth pupil. Director
and missed Abi’s car by millimetres. As it went by,
of sixth form Ionie Young explains: ‘We were all
someone inside lobbed a missile through the open
ÁRRUHGE\ZKDWKHKDGEHHQWKURXJKDQGZRUULHG
window of Abi’s car and it hit me in the face.’
that he might give up on his studies. He had never
A couple of moments later, Jonathan and his
EHHQDPRQJWKHKLJKO\FRQÀGHQWSXSLOVEXWWKH
friends made their way around the street corner
amazing thing was that after the attack, he seemed
and saw the gang from the car waiting for them. ‘I
empowered. He bounced back academically
should have known better, but I was so annoyed, I
and his attitude was an inspiration to everyone in
got out of the car, and before I knew it, I was under
his year group.’ Mrs Young nominated Jonathan
VLHJH,GLGQ·WIHHOWKHVWDEZRXQGVDWÀUVW$IULHQG
for a Diana Award after secretly watching his
dragged me back and when I looked down, blood
coaching sessions at Winchmore Hill Hockey
was dripping from my side. The gang drove off,
Club. ‘He gave up his evenings and weekends
and my friends got me to hospital where I was
and was always willing to put himself out for others
found to have a punctured lung. My worst moment
without expectation or reward. He’s proof that
was seeing the devastation in my parents’ faces
there is nothing you can’t do if you put your mind
when they arrived. My dad said, “Why did you put
to it, and that helping others is often the best way
yourself in that situation?” And I just didn’t have an
of helping yourself.’
answer for him.’
-RQDWKDQZKRLVQRZLVEDFNWRÀWQHVVDQG
The son of a retired BT engineer father and
playing hockey as well as coaching. He’s secured
PRWKHUZKRZRUNVDVDQH[DPVRIÀFHU-RQDWKDQ
three A-levels – an A and two Bs – and is taking a
was discharged from hospital after three days, but
gap year before going to university where he hopes
spent a month bed-bound at home. He then found
WRUHDGVRFLRORJ\¶,ZDVRQO\ÀYHZKHQ3ULQFHVV
that although he was recovering physically,
Diana died and I didn’t understand what she stood
mentally he remained traumatised. ‘I felt vulnerable
for,’ he says. ‘But now I can see that she believed
and paranoid. I remember not wanting to go out
young people could make a difference. And
even for my 18th birthday in September.’ He had
winning the award has made me realise that, in a
always been active – playing hockey, football,
small way, that is what I’ve been able to do, too.’
WHQQLVDQGVZLPPLQJUHJXODUO\²EXWKLVÀWQHVV
plummeted. Then a friend coaxed him into doing a
charity fun run. ‘I had no stamina, and I knew I

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 Source: Mail on Sunday, The {You}
Edition:
Country: UK
Date: Sunday 28, November 2010
Page: 36,37,3...
Area: 2639 sq. cm
Circulation: ABC 2037232 Weekly
BRAD info: page rate £39,300.00, scc rate £230.00
Phone: 020 7938 6000
Keyword: Diana Award

‘I felt vulnerable
and paranoid.
I remember not
wanting to go out’
Jonathan Pitcher found that teaching
hockey to youngsters helped restore
his confidence following his attack

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 Source: Mail on Sunday, The {You}
Edition:
Country: UK
Date: Sunday 28, November 2010
Page: 36,37,3...
Area: 2639 sq. cm
Circulation: ABC 2037232 Weekly
BRAD info: page rate £39,300.00, scc rate £230.00
Phone: 020 7938 6000
Keyword: Diana Award

since been convicted of culpable homicide.

THE YOUTH WORKER (ULQÀQGVLWGLIÀFXOWWRWDONDERXWWKHWUDJHG\
Springburn in North Glasgow recently won the ‘It is a big part of why I do what I do, but it is still
unenviable title of being the most feared very raw,’ she says.
neighbourhood in Scotland, with 42 per cent of its Erin’s own mentor is Anne MacGregor, the
residents declaring themselves afraid of being project manager of a youth club to which Erin
attacked by strangers. Street corners are often EHORQJHG¶:KHQ,ÀUVWPHW(ULQVKHZDVDQ
SRSXODWHGE\WHHQDJHUVGULQNLQJIRUWLÀHG%XFNIDVW angry wee girl because of what had happened
ZLQHDQGSLFNLQJÀJKWVDQGXQWLOOLWWOHPRUHWKDQD to her brother. But instead of being eaten up by
year ago, Kyle Gallagher, 16, was among them. ‘It that anger, she has turned it into a force for
wasn’t doing me a lot of good, but it was a way of good,’ says Anne.
having a laugh,’ he shrugs. Anne asked Erin to become a volunteer at
Today, however, he is a Depot Arts two years ago. Erin threw herself into
ÁHGJLQJKLSKRSGDQFH
the role, running dance groups, organising
teacher at Depot Arts, a
outings and sourcing funding to keep activities
creative centre for local
going. Earlier this year, she was taken on as a
young people. The person
full-time worker and has been pioneering singing
he has to thank for turning
and circus skills workshops. She sees a key part
his life around is Depot Arts’
of her role as breaking down the long-standing
coordinator and Diana
JDQJULYDOU\EHWZHHQ3RVVLOSDUN6SULQJEXUQ
Award winner Erin Friel. ‘Erin
and other neighbourhoods in the deprived
is amazing. She’s given me
districts of North Glasgow where she lives.
a future,’ Kyle says.
¶7KHJDQJVRI3RVVLOSDUNDQG6SULQJEXUQKDWH
Jennifer Nixon tells a
each other, but I’ve no time for that pettiness,’ she
similar story. A 16-year-old
says. ‘Glasgow is one big community and the
single mother, she gave
only way forward is to give people something fun
birth to her son Josh in June 2009. ‘I had to leave
to do and something that makes them feel good
school and go and live with my gran. I lost all my
about themselves.’
friends – they didn’t want to know me once I had a
‘Erin has given up part of her own childhood to
baby. Then Erin saw me in the street, told me
be there for other young people,’ says Anne,
there was a place where I could go and do some
who nominated her protégé for the Diana
ZRUNVKRSVDQGEXLOGXSP\FRQÀGHQFH,ORYHG
Award. ‘And she doesn’t take the easy option.
being in the choir at school and now I am singing
The children she helps are among the most
and writing songs again. Erin has been my rock.
WURXEOHGDQGGLIÀFXOWWRGHDOZLWKEXWVKH
She’s quite simply a legend around here.’
has a way of engaging with them that makes
When I tell Erin about these tributes, she
all the difference.’
blushes and says quietly, ‘I just try and be myself.’
Colleagues describe her as compassionate,
The Diana Award is a registered charity that seeks
inspirational and modest. But perhaps the most
nominations for exceptional teenagers who,
astonishing thing about her is that she is just 18.
through volunteering, fundraising, campaigning
The youngest of nine children, she has had, in
RUFDULQJKDYHZRUNHGVHOÁHVVO\IRUWKHEHQHÀWRI
many ways, as tough an upbringing as the troubled
others. So far, 30,000 young people have received
teenagers she is mentoring. The daughter of a
awards for helping to change their communities for
labourer father and factory worker mother, she
WKHEHWWHU7RQRPLQDWHGRQDWHRUIRUPRUH
was left shattered three years ago by the death of
information, go to diana-award.org.uk
KHUEHORYHGHOGHUEURWKHU3DWULFNZKRZDV
VWDEEHGWRGHDWKLQDVWUHHWÀJKW7ZRPHQKDYH

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 Source: Mail on Sunday, The {You}
Edition:
Country: UK
Date: Sunday 28, November 2010
Page: 36,37,3...
Area: 2639 sq. cm
Circulation: ABC 2037232 Weekly
BRAD info: page rate £39,300.00, scc rate £230.00
Phone: 020 7938 6000
Keyword: Diana Award

Despite being just 18 herself,

Erin Friel (right and above left)
mentors teenagers such as
fledging hip-hop dance teacher
Kyle Gallagher (above right)

‘The gangs of North Glasgow hate each other. But

I have no time for that pettiness. The way forward
is to make people feel good about themselves’

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