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Sister of gun victim sets up group to turn young away from crime
Rob Singh, Evening Standard29.08.08
The sister of a murdered youth worker has set up a group to help turn young people away from violent crime.
Shannel Foster, 21, has joined forces with two friends to launch Street Platinum in memory of brother Nathan.
The 18-year-old was killed in Brixton in August 2007 when a gunman opened fire after he tried to mediate in a dispute.
He died wearing a T-shirt bearing the face of his son, Raheem. In June this year Junior Glasgow, 17, of Brixton, was jailed for life for the murder.
Student Miss Foster, 21, who also does youth work, is setting up Street Platinum with Joseph Wilson, 21, and Solomon Smith, 23.
She said: "Our aim is to get young people to have a quality of life and try to empower them through sports, letting them know there are avenues to take other than violence."
Nathan was a talented rider and joined the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton at the age of seven as a founding member.
He won a string of prizes at horse shows. Miss Foster said: "Ebony taught disadvantaged young people to ride and gave us the opportunity we would not normally have."
With the backing of Lambeth council and local marketing company Mo-Shon, Street Platinum will be creating a programme of sports in the area in coming months.
One of its first duties will be to present a fair play award to a team in the Lambeth World Cup football tournament.
The group helped organise the competition and 500 children have taken part. The award will be presented at the final at Fulham's Motspur Park training ground on Sunday, alongside trophies for the cup winners. There will also be a Nathan Foster memorial match between Fulham FC coaches and a team of young people.
Next Friday Street Platinum will organise a community fun day in memory of Ryan Bravo, the 18-year-old who was shot dead earlier this month just a few streets away from where Nathan died.
In July Lambeth became one of the first boroughs to have an action plan to tackle gang activity.
Council leader Steve Reed said: "Only a minority of young people get involved in violent crime but when they do the consequences can be huge."
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The young minority groups are already at a disadvantage in this country, a lot more needs to be done when they are young; but it's great news that the young people themselves are taking a stand and making a significant difference in their community.
- Beverley, mitcham surrey
