Along with the Peace Alliance, McPin is working with young people in Haringey, North London, on the Peer Action Collective – to help make life safer and fairer for their local communities.
Charlotte-Leigh Cooke, a seventeen-year-old Peer Researcher working on the project, explains the project mission and captures reflections from some of the young people wanting to advocate for their communities.
What are we doing with the Peer Action Collective (PAC)?
We are representing the Peer Action Collective (PAC) in London. With PAC, us young people are contributing to help make our boroughs and communities safer, better places for us all.
Across the country, the collective brings together a wide range of peer researchers and social action leaders, who meet weekly in their areas to take action and see how as young people we can make the change that desperately needs to occur.
In London, we are a small group aged 16-20, all eager for change on the topic of youth violence. I and many others have struggled with the effects of youth violence, the biggest being death. I personally have lost near to five friends. The most soul shattering thing is that these are the lives of minors.
All the friends and family that I personally have lost to youth violence have been under 18, and it honestly makes me worry for our society. We’re working towards the chance to advocate for our cause and talk on how to move forward as a community.
Our work follows the key principals of peer research – whereby research is done best when it involves people with relevant personal experience that relates to the questions being asked. We call this ‘lived experience’, which we integrate into our work.
Below are some initial reflections from our team since we came together for the first time in November 2023.
All the friends and family that I personally have lost to youth violence have been under 18, and it honestly makes me worry for our society.
Charlotte-Leigh Cooke, PAC peer researcher
Lived experience research in action
We formed our team of 12 young people in the Autumn of 2023. Since then, we’ve completed induction and training days to get to know each other and develop skills for the work; joined a residential to meet others around the country working on the same mission; and collected interview data from dozens of local young people.
We’re continuing to analyse the data and recruit young changemakers locally, to expand our campaign for the change that young people want to see in our area.
Interview day (September 2023)
“On the day of the interview, I was quite nervous, but at the same time felt relatively confident about the interview, and went in not feeling too bad. The interview was not how I expected it to be, as it felt like less of a formal occasion, which I enjoyed.
“I felt the interview went relatively well and I returned home feeling confident. When I was told I had gotten the job I was extremely happy and couldn’t contain my excitement.” (Jake)
Induction days (October 2023)
“The induction days were fun. It was kind of hard for me to socialise since I’m not a social individual, but I pushed myself because I knew this was the job I wanted for the next couple of years. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. Getting to know each other through the games made me feel secure and comfortable with the people I’d just met.” (Olivia)
“During the induction days I was feeling a bit nervous meeting new people cause I’m not good with meeting new people, but when I got to know the team it was a very good crowd of young people doing something good in life and getting a reward to put on our CV. I’m very good at socializing and meeting new people now!” (Kyan)
I am not only speaking about myself when I say that meeting the wider PAC team was a moment that will not be forgotten. It was a moment that many of us stepped out of our comfort zones, expressed ourselves, and came out of our shells.
Kandra, young person
Project residential (November 2023)
“The residential amplified the harmony that I had seen within our team, as we all collaborated to put in new ideas and stood up on stage together expressing our thoughts as a team. All the group work, eating together for breakfast lunch and dinner, and being around each other for 48hrs allowed us to go from being a group to being a team.
“Our trip built connection, innovation, comfort, and confidence within our team. We gained more insights to what our work on PAC is about, learning who the founders are, why this is happening, how this is happening, and what our aims are.
“I am not only speaking about myself when I say that meeting the wider PAC team was a moment that will not be forgotten. It was a moment that many of us stepped out of our comfort zones, expressed ourselves, and came out of our shells.” (Kandra)
Weekly work sessions (December 2023 – Summer 2024)
“The meetings make me feel like we are getting so much done in regards to figuring out solutions to challenges and issues we have put forward; learning how to depict data and different types of learning; how to interview a young person; etc.
“I think it’s great that we are being taught to be both a peer researcher and how to be part of social action. This will help us to decide what types of jobs we are most interested in, which makes it feel more independent and interesting, alongside guaranteeing that we will have an enjoyable time.
“I feel supported by both my teammates and those leading, which makes me feel comfortable and cared for.” (Izzy)
We will need your support
Youth violence, gang and knife crime is present across the country, and can feel unescapable. If you’re lucky, it’s just horrible stories on the news. But for us, it’s a real part of our lives. It’s our close friends we’re losing as youth, and elders are losing children.
As youth, we can only do so much. We need your support. We hope to be a spark that’ll light the change on youth violence. A beacon of hope for a better future – a safer, adequate more distinguished country and society for all, bringing communities together in unity and standing for a better society.
Please follow our progress on @PeaceAllianceUK on Instagram to support our work as we progress.
Thank you ever so much.
