The West Euston Time Bank

Start II

The Start programme is a youth programme developed by the R.E.U to encourage children and young people to explore their identity and their role in their immediate community.  The Start programme focuses on social competences, self esteem and positive identities that embrace all cultures and ethnicities within the community. 

Start promotes healthy relationships and lifestyles to empower young people to make informed choices in their lives.

The boys achieved this aim by writing and recording a Hip Hop EP at Tribal Tree recording studios in Chalk Farm.

 They also had to attend workshops discussing identity, strengths, personality, temperament and reputation and to draw out positive responses from the young people about themselves and their morals and principles. 

The Start 2 group ages ranged from 12 to 16. They were from the surrounding area of the Samuel Lithgow Youth Centre.

Credits were earned attending the discussion workshops and time spent at home composing the lyrics. They spent their credits on music technology tuition at Tribal Tree studios and having a meal at Nandos.

Start 2 project was carried out between September 2005 and February 2006 with the West Euston Time Bank as the project manager with funding from the Local Network Fund, WETB, SYLC and Tribal Tree with support from Camden Council’s Youth & Connexions service.

START II HIP HOP EP LAUNCH

Saturday 25^th February 2006

The day proved very successful with over 65 names registered who came to see the awards.  

Councillor Nasim Ali gave out the certificates and made a very encouraging speech to all the participants regarding the hard work and effort they put in to make this EP. The event received press coverage from Camden New Journal and were in the centre spread of the following week’s paper. Each participant also received three copies of their EP.

In the main hall of the Samuel Lithgow Youth Centre decks were set up where the Start II boys could then MC and show off their talent to the audience. A mystery guest – MC Bashy then joined them, much to their surprise.

After the performance all of the Start 2 boys were heckled by the audience to sign their autographs to their EP which they carried out very willingly!