Southside Radio
At Oasis, a huge part of our work is helping young people to express what they think and feel. By giving young people a voice - and listening to what they say - many teenagers develop a greater sense of self-worth, and hope for the future.
One project which exemplifies this is Southside Radio, run by church.co.uk (part of our Waterloo Hub) which operates throughout the summer holidays. The aim of the station is to create a project for young people, delivered by young people. Now in its fifth year, the station was live on the airwaves and the internet throughout August. Young people were invited to come and produce their own shows including music, discussion, debate, interviews, competitions and phone-ins.
Lloyd Marshall is a 14-year-old presenter on Southside. Having grown up in South Africa, Lloyd now lives in East London, and has a weekly music show. Speaking about how he became involved with the project, Lloyd said:
"Last year I felt like quitting and giving up. There's just weren't any opportunities for me to rap. But then a friend told me about Oasis and Southside, and I came down here. When I first came, the people here were so warm. They're just so kind and it's a nice place to be. And since coming here, my rapping has really improved. So big thanks to everyone at Southside."
Young people have a variety of reasons for coming to The Hub, which also runs football training, art and dance workshops as well as Southside. One young person said, "It helps you prove you're worth something to everyone else."
How teenagers find that sense of worth - and prove it to their peers - is incredibly important. Lyrics which depict violence and gang-related activity seems to be one way in which many young artists 'prove' themselves. Speaking about the subject, Lloyd commented: "Rapping about violence is a way to fit in. No one wants to be left out of things, and it's the same for young people. Violence isn't the way to go, and it's not that I want to write violent lyrics, but right now, it's the best way to be involved."
One of the many outcomes of Southside is that it enables young people to belong, to fit in, to 'prove their worth', to find out who they are and express their creativity without violence or negative behaviour. Walking away from Hub House, I had to agree with Lloyd's last words to me: "Southside is totally worth it. They keep people off the streets. They do a really, really good thing."
What young people say about Southside
"Southside is a place where you can belong. Not just to jam with your friends, but to add to your community at the same time."
"Being around older adults - especially the boys, being around the older male role models, I think it has helped them see that there're other things they can do besides hanging around."
"I feel like it helps me kind of come out of the box. It pulls up your self esteem and your confidence that you can go more places in your life."
"It's giving young teenagers hope."