The Voice Newspaper: January 2025

JANUARY 2025 • ISSUE NO. 1962

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‘HELPING OUR YOUTH CAN SPARK CHANGE’ EXCLUSIVE

Arsenal and England star Raheem Sterling tells The Voice how he’s using his journey to help young people overcome challenges IN AN interview with The Voice, Raheem Sterling, one of the finest footballers of his generation, tells of the challenges he’s faced on his path to greatness, how he’s using those challenges to empower young people, and how his deep love for Jamaica drives everything he does.

Top reggae artists back calls for reparations REGGAE ARTISTS worldwide are using their platforms to demand reparations for slavery for Caribbean and African nations, amplifying calls for justice and keeping the issue alive among their fans. Grammy-nominated reggae singer Rocky Dawuni (pictured left) has joined artists such as Sizzla and Chronixx in condemning slavery. ›› p10-11

Inside THIS MONTH

The Voice says

News, views, stories & videos

THE 10 MOST POPULAR STORIES ON VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK

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Jamaica prepares to cut ties with the British monarchy through historic bill - Jamaica’s bill to transition to a republic, removing King Charles as head of state

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Muhammad Ali Jr launches drive to tackle Parkinson’s disease in the Black community

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How dominoes are breaking health taboos in Caribbean families

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Superwoman no more: why Black women deserve more than burnout

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British Caribbean doctors unite to inspire change and save lives

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Blueprint for success: Trevor Blackman on making communities a better place

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Raheem Sterling seeks to inspire the next generations

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Marcus Fakana sentenced to a year in prison for holiday romance. The 18-year-old was jailed in Dubai after a relationship with a 17-year-old British girl Man charged with murder of Grenadian man killed in west London

3 Breaking the silence: why open health discussions 4

CORPORATE AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Paula Dyke E. paula@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

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Jeremy Corbyn: ‘Britain must face the truth and pay reparations for slavery’. Former Labour leader urged Britain to stop dragging its feet on the issue

are vital in Black British communities

F

OR GENERATIONS, health taboos have persisted in Black communities, casting a long shadow over the well-being of countless individuals and families.

Whether it’s mental health, chronic illnesses, or reproductive health, these issues remain shrouded in stigma, leaving many without the support they need.

But change is happening, driven by innovative initiatives that blend cultural traditions with modern health advocacy.

A recent campaign, Liming with Gran, is using the beloved Caribbean pastime of dominoes to spark vital conversations.

Rooted in the tradition of ‘liming’ – relaxed gatherings with friends and family – the initiative brings health discussions to the kitchen table.

A film at the centre of the campaign features 84-year-old Windrush matriarch Jean and her grandson Tre discussing family health through custom dominoes with prompts.

Their discussions emphasise the campaign’s mission to normalize health conversations and address issues like diabetes, hypertension, and sickle cell disease.

“When we talk about the difficult topics that we’ve shied away from for generations, magic can happen,” says Jean.

This issue is 48 pages EDITOR Vic Motune E. vic.motune@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

ROUNDUP NEWSPAPER

It’s an initiative that addresses mistrust and stigma in Black British communities, where mental health struggles often go untreated due to cultural expectations. Reproductive health issues like fertility challenges and menopause also remain unspoken, leaving many without vital support.

By combining cultural familiarity with health education, Liming with Gran has created an approachable way to tackle these issues. The bespoke dominoes – inspired by Windrush-era UK homes and the ocean blues of the Caribbean – serve as both conversation starters and cultural artefacts.

By introducing health discussions into the familiar and joyful context of liming, Liming with Gran provides a powerful antidote to the barriers that often prevent Black communities from engaging with health services.

Breaking the silence about health issues in the Black community is a multi-pronged effort that requires open, honest, and culturally resonant discussions.

By embracing innovative initiatives like Liming with Gran, we can dismantle taboos, build trust, and ensure a healthier future for all. It’s time to break the silence – one game of dominoes at a time.

5 6 7 8

Jamaican soccer star Michail Antonio involved in car accident

Marcus Fakana: Teen jailed in Dubai for holiday romance pleads to come home Marcus Fakana: David Lammy says Brits should “follow the rules” in other countries.

Caribbean leaders reject Trump’s reported migrant deportation plan. Grenada, The Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos are amongst the nations who say they will oppose the new US President’s proposals Remembering my friend Benjamin Zephaniah. Today (December 7) marks a year since Benjamin Zephaniah’s sadly died.

Black British Muslims celebrated at special award ceremony. Show celebrated those making outstanding contributions in tech, sport, business and the arts.

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JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 3

News

ALYSSA’S DREAM NOW REAL

The story of how one six-year-old girl helped launch a game which is ‘all about us’. By Vic Motune

W

HEN ALYSSA Awuah, just six years old, eagerly scrolled through dress-up games on her tablet, she found herself asking a heartwrenching question: ‘Why don’t any of these characters look like me?’

Alyssa loved experimenting with outfits and hairstyles in virtual worlds, but the glaring absence of characters with Afro hair left her feeling invisible.

Her mother, Yvonne Ottley, remembers that moment vividly.

“Children naturally want to see themselves in the games they play — it’s a part of how they start to form their identities,” she said.

Determined to find a game that reflected her daughter’s reality, Yvonne searched extensively but found the offerings disheartening.

The few games featuring Black characters often required expensive subscriptions, and Afro hair styles were scarce — or worse, culturally misrepresented. Yvonne posed a life-changing question to Alyssa: “Why don’t we just create our own game?”

That simple question sparked a journey that would transform a kitchen-table idea into a groundbreaking brand.

Together, Yvonne and Alyssa began developing what would become Frobelles — the UK’s first dress-up game app celebrating Afro hair.

They brainstormed three main characters, Coco, Kelli, and Krista,

all with stunning Afro hairstyles like Bantu knots, Fulani braids and box braids. With Yvonne’s graphic design skills and input from Alyssa, the duo worked with an illustrator and app developer to bring their vision to life.

The app, launched in 2020, quickly resonated with young girls yearning for representation. Its appeal lay not just in its extensive wardrobe or hairstyle options, but also in its deeper mission: empowering young girls to embrace their natural hair.

With Alyssa herself voicing the app’s commands, the experience became personal and relatable for its audience.

Fro b el l e s has grown far beyond its initial scope. The app has surpassed 100,000 downloads, boasts its own fan club, and has hosted off-line events that emphasise sisterhood and self-love. It has been featured in a number of major media outlets.

Collaborations with tech giants like Apple and GooglePlay have further amplified its reach, and a licensing deal with Hero Brands is set to bring Frobelles-themed toys, clothing and hair accessories to retail markets in the UK and the US. Now the young entrepreneur is celebrating another milestone.

A young role model Alyssa recently made history by becoming the youngest-ever winner of a PRECIOUS Award, which celebrates the achievements of women of colour. She was named

RECOGNITION: Alyssa, centre, her mother Yvonne., right, and Denise Ramsey, Executive Director of the Joseph Levy Foundation, at the recent PRECIOUS Awards

CELEBRATING BLACK BEAUTY: “Seeing yourself in something makes you feel you belong,” says Alyssa, reflecting on Frobelles’ success; left, the three Frobelles characters Young Entrepreneur of the Year, an accolade sponsored by Santander and supported by the Joseph Levy Foundation.

Accepting the award, Alyssa, now 12, said: “I want to inspire other kids to be the change they wish to see in the world. Even small initiatives can have a huge impact.”

Foluke Akinlose MBE, founder of the PRECIOUS Awards, hailed Alyssa’s achievement: “Alyssa’s creativity, passion, and determination are a true inspiration to us all. At such a young age, she has already demonstrated the power of representation and innovation through her work with Frobelles. She embodies

everything the PRECIOUS Awards A movement, not just stand for.” a game Akinlose continued: “Alyssa’s cre- Frobelles is more than a game; it ativity, passion and determination tackles deeper issues of identity and are a true inspiration to us all. self-esteem. A recent study by Dove “At such a young age, she has study underscores the importance already demonstrated the power of this goal. of representation and innovation The study revealed 53 per cent of through her work with Frobelles.

Black mothers report their daugh“Her achievement embodies the ters experiencing hair discriminaessence of what the PRECIOUS tion as early as five years old. “These Awards stand for: the importance of micro-aggressions can really impact representation, celebrating talent, the way children see themselves,” vision and the incredible contribu- Yvonne notes. “We wanted to cretions of Black women and girls. ate a space where Afro hair is cel“Alyssa is a shining example of ebrated, not stigmatised.” the next generation of trailblazing For Yvonne, the journey has been entrepreneurs.” as much about learning as it has

been about creating. “Alyssa is meticulous when it comes to testing new features. Her creativity constantly amazes me,” Yvonne says.

“She’s not just a co-founder — she’s my business partner and teacher.”

As the Frobelles community continues to grow, the brand is branching out with new features like a “story mode” that teaches children how to care for their hair, style it, and get ready for the day. These additions aim to provide practical support for kids who may not have someone to guide them through these routines.

With plans to expand to the US market and forge new partnerships, the mother-daughter duo are aiming to reach new heights on their entrepreneurial journey.

“We remain 100 per cent committed to celebrating Afro hair and creating a positive, empowering space for young girls everywhere,” Yvonne said.

Through Frobelles, Alyssa has proven age is no barrier to making a difference or dreaming big.

“I just wanted a game where girls like me could feel beautiful and proud. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come,” she said, reflecting on her success. “Representation matters so much. When you see yourself in something, it makes you feel like you belong.”

WINTER PROGRAMME SCHOOLING YOUNGER GENERATION IN CREATIVE-INDUSTRY SKILLS YOUNG PEOPLE in London gained valuable skills for the creative industries through the Creative Winter School, a four-session programme organised by the CC Foundation in partnership with the Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation.

Held at Manor House, Lee Green, south east London, the free initiative targeted 16 to 25-year-olds eager to explore careers in digital marketing, photography and design.

The workshops included sessions on introductions to buying and merchandising, digital marketing basics, visual art and digital photography, and Adobe Creative Cloud, with the aim of equipping attendees with practical knowledge.

Neil Clifford, CEO of Kurt Geiger, described the initiative as a critical step in making creative careers accessible. “The CC Foundation’s bold vision aligns perfectly with the Kurt Geiger

Kindness Foundation. We are proud to support the Creative Winter Programme — an inspiring initiative designed to ignite passion and unlock potential for the next generation of creative talent.”

Fekky, founder of the CC Foundation, an organisation dedicated to helping young people develop through education, training and employment support, emphasised the importance of the workshops.

He said the initiative reflected both organisations’ commitment to breaking barriers and nurturing young talent.

“The Creative Winter School is a vital opportunity for young people to unlock their potential, explore talents, and build lasting connections,” he said. “Partnering with the Kurt Geiger Foundation amplifies this impact, fostering growth, empowerment, and a brighter future for all involved.”

EMPOWERED: Young Londoners gained practical skills for creative careers through a free Creative Winter School

4 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

USING HIS FATHER’S LEGACY TO HELP OTHERS Exclusive: Muhammad Ali’s son set to launch UK foundation to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease in Black community. By Sinai Fleary

B

OXING LEGEND Muhammad Ali’s son is set to launch a foundation in the UK to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease in the Black community.

Muhammad Ali Jr., one of the late sporting icon’s nine children, is planning to bring the Muhammad Ali Legacy Continued Foundation to Britain as part of his campaign to help eradicate the disease.

His record-breaking heavyweight champion father was diagnosed with the debilitating illness in 1984, just three years after retiring from professional boxing.

Muhammad Jr. spent six weeks in Britain last year.

Through his foundation he is aiming to encourage Black and other minority ethnic groups specifically to participate in medical trials for the disease to ensure they are represented in research.

“I’m here to raise awareness for Black, brown and Asian people because they are not participating in the trials for Parkinson’s,” he said. “How can they get treatment,

if they don’t participate?”

The father of three is hoping that a cure or “solution” is found, and he is willing to do what he can through collaborating with leading Parkinson’s charities and organisations.

He told The Voice he plans to get tested to see if he is at risk of developing the neurological disease.

“It’s been about 40 years since my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

“It might be hereditary; we don’t know, and I am getting tested to see if I do have Parkinson’s. Maybe if I can detect it early then I can get treatment for it.”

Ali was 74 when he died on June 3, 2016.

Sadly, the disease has also claimed the lives of other members of Muhammad Ali Jr.’s family.

“My mother’s father died of Parkinson’s on June 2, 2017 and my uncle Rahaman — my father’s brother — is dealing with Parkinson’s now,” he explained.

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and currently there is no cure, according to Parkinson’s UK — a leading charity researching the illness.

In the UK, around 153,000 people are already living with Parkinson’s and with population growth and ageing this is likely to increase to around 172,000 people in the UK by 2030.

“I’m going to get tested for Parkinson’s and I’m going to have that videotaped so that Black, brown and Asian people can see that it’s not a bad thing to do,” he said.

The recording will be part of a forthcoming documentary he is producing called Papa’s Got Parkinson’s and he is encouraging other Black and minority families who have a loved one dealing with the condition to

“It might be hereditary; I am getting tested for Parkinson’s.

Maybe if I can detect it early then I can get treatment for it”

come forward to be a part of it.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, we need people to talk about what is going on,” he said.

Muhammad Jr. is the Patron of the US branch of the foundation and British photographer, Derek R Marshall, is the UK co-ordinator to Richard Blum, who is the CEO of Muhammad Ali Legacy Continued.

Speaking to The Voice, Marshall — who oversaw Muhammad Jr.’s UK visit — said the foundation’s aim is to positively impact the lives of those with Parkinson’s is a much needed one.

“Rather than having a historic salute and nod to Muhammad Ali, we thought why don’t we try and change the future?” he said.

“We’re going to do a number of events. We are working with Parkinson’s UK and Cure Parkinson’s for seven months.

“Muhammad is working towards becoming an ambassador for Cure Parkinson’s and wishes to do the same for other European and UK-based organisations that are not only studying Parkinson’s but other neurological diseases.”

According to Marshall, associates of the foundation will

ICONIC: Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali stands over Sonny Liston and taunts him to get up during their 1965 title fight (photo: Getty Images)

be negotiating to gain control of all four of the gloves worn by Ali and Henry Cooper in the highly publicised fight in 1963 so that they can be sold at auction.

He hopes a percentage of the auction of the Ali memorabilia world tour will go towards the new UK foundation.

PROGRESS Marshall also revealed that the foundation’s team are in discussions with Netflix and HBO are in discussions about Papas Got

Parkinson’s documentary which he developed alongside Blum.

“After changes in the production team this year, we hope to make significant progress with this project in 2025 when both Muhammad Ali Jr. and Ilyasah Shabazz — his god-sister — will hopefully meet up for the first time in decades in the UK to celebrate the 100th birthday of Malcolm X who was Muhammad Ali’s mentor and brought Ali in to the Islamic faith back in the early 1960s.”

While there is no known cause

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 5

News Feature

DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION: Muhammad Ali Jr, far left, with his father, centre, at an event with others including Joe Frazier and Laila Ali (photo: Getty Images)

DOING THE WORK: Muhammad Ali Jr. in the UK last year as part of his campaign (photo: Derek Marshall)

TEAMWORK: Derek Marshall, UK Coordinator of the foundation, left, and Muhammad Ali Jr.; Muhammad Ali holds his son Muhammad Ali Jr., circa 1973 (photos: Derek Marshall/Getty Images) for the disease, Muhammad Jr. said that over the years he’s heard stories that head trauma could be a possible cause which he remains unsure about.

“We are not for certain if, with my father, it was from boxing and being hit in the head so many times because Michael J Fox has got [Parkinson’s] and he never boxed a day in his life,” he said.

Determined to use his voice for a good cause, he is urging Black people to look out for the symptoms which include involuntary shaking of body parts.

FAITH Just like his father, Muhammad Jr. is a practising Muslim and a member of the Nation of Islam (NOI).

“My faith, even before my father’s passing, kept me humble, because there’s only one humanity, one God and one way of life.

“We have to stay humble, we have to help each other, and we have to treat people the way we want to be treated because in life you never know who you might need.”

Muhammad Jr. told The Voice,

one of the main misconceptions he wants to address is the idea that he and his father were not close.

“My father did not abandon me,” he said sternly. “I would talk to him all the time.”

One grassroots British boxing coach believes having an Ali foundation based in the UK is a fitting tribute, as the late boxing great is still “revered” — even among a new generation of aspiring boxers.

Chinedum Nwokonkor is a boxing coach at Box Up in Ilford, east London, which has pictures of Ali all over the gym.

“The reason his photo is everywhere is he is respected, his skill deserves respect and his legacy deserves respect” he told The Voice.

“Without Muhammad Ali boxing just wouldn’t be where it is today, Muhammad Ali and boxing are almost inseparable. People are still trying to implement his footwork and way of striking.”

The coach says he “fully supports” the foundation’s launch and believes it can help address many “taboos” surrounding

What is Parkinson’s?

ACCORDING TO the NHS website, Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.

Some of the main symptoms include involuntary shaking of parts of the body, slow movement and stiff and inflexible muscles.

A person with Parkinson’s can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms.

These include: l Depression and anxiety

l Balance problems

Men are slightly more likely to get Parkinson’s than women and most people with start to develop symptoms when they’re over 50.

However, some with the condition first experience symptoms when they’re under 40. l If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, please contact your GP

Parkinson’s in the Black community and help bridge the gap between the community and health services.

“There are so many people reaching out for resources but aren’t getting help and there are others who fear of being judged.”

Muhammad Jr. lives by very

simple principles which he says keep him grounded and focused on what is really important in life.

“Just be yourself, love God, treat people nice and give back to the community and that’s what I hope to do with this new foundation,” he said.

l Loss of sense of smell

(anosmia)

l Problems sleeping

(insomnia)

l Memory problems

With a record of 56 wins and five losses, Muhammad Ali was the first three-time world heavyweight champion, defending his title 19 times. Renowned for his skill, charisma and impact, Ali became a household name and was named BBC Sports Personality of the Century in 1999.

He is often credited with epitomising pride in Black identity and self-love across the global Black community.

In 1967, Muhammad Ali refused US Army induction, citing religious beliefs. Stripped of his heavyweight title, fined $10,000 (around £8,000) and sentenced to prison, he never served time as his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court.

Ali’s name change reflected his Islamic faith and anti-war stance, with his son stating that the champion boxer was prepared to die for his beliefs rather than kill innocent people in Vietnam.

To the outside world Ali was a global sporting icon and a cultural phenomenon, but to his son he was simply his father and his best friend.

“Daddy is daddy, we had a good relationship with each

other, it wasn’t like a father and son relationship, it was more like a brother-to-brother type relationship,” he explained.

The advice given to him by his father about being a Black man in America has had a profound impact on him and has stayed with him for many years.

“He would say ‘son you have to have your history, your culture, your God, taking that away from you is stripping you naked’.”

ADVICE Muhammad Jr. only discovered how famous his father was after flicking through an encyclopaedia at school. He often impersonates Ali’s voice just to feel closer to him.

And he says that his father’s advice about embracing Black identity, history, and faith had a deep impact on him.

Every January 17 Muhammad Jr. marks his father’s birthday with quiet reflection. This year will be no different.

“I just reflect and pray that one day I will see him again, I really miss him a lot.”

6 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

News Feature

GLITZ AND GLAMOUR TO CELEBRATE OUR HEROES

U

NSUNG HEROES from across the UK were honoured at a glitzy Birmingham awards celebration recognising humbling achievements in business, charity and community.

A 900-strong crowd cheered on finalists at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel for the Multicultural Business and Community Champion (MBCC) Awards, now in its ninth year.

Winners shared their inspiring stories as they took to the stage, at the event hosted by comedian Judi Love and soul legend Omar.

Among the winners was proud Brummie Alison Hammond whose award was presented to her by chart-topping soul singer Beverley Knight.

This Morning and Great British Bake Off star Alison, 49, was given an Honorary Inspirational Role Model Award and was joined by her son Aidan. Accepting her award, Alison urged people to be “unapologetically themselves”.

“Don’t change for anyone,” she said: “I have always been me, big, Black and beautiful. Don’t let anyone stop you being you.”

There were 20 award categories, paying tribute to community business, charity and community leaders and volunteers, as well as special honorary awards – which went to campaigning culinary legend Levi Roots, singer Annie Lennox, and Paul Canoville, Chelsea FC’s first Black player who overcame racial bigotry, illness and addiction to work tirelessly to give disadvantaged young people a better start in life. Birmingham

charity free@last, which aims to help end poverty and help young people thrive, from its base in Nechells, was also highlighted as a partner for this year’s awards.

Legendary Birmingham poet Benjamin Zephaniah’s sisters Millicent Springer and Joyce Amidedon accepted a posthumous award on his behalf to rapturous applause from the audience.

Millicent said: “It is a privilege to accept an award on behalf of our brother and he would be proud to know we are continuing his legacy. We are glad to know he is loved by the wider world.”

Somalia-born journalist and social media influencer Amina Mussa Wehelie, who has fought back from trying to take her life to broadcast to an audience of millions, was also honoured.

The former BBC World Service producer, who is partially deaf and a mum of five, said she was determined to end a stigma around mental illness in the UK’s Somali community and beyond.

She was named Inspirational Person of the Year.

The MBCC awards were set up in 2016. Founder Zoe Bennett BEM, of Sutton Coldfield, said she was driven to start the awards after the brutal murder of her father, Errol, 59, while he was on holiday in Jamaica in 2011.

Zoe told the audience: “My dad was my hero and I wanted to recognise other people who do so much for others.”

Iconic singer-songwriter and social campaigner Annie Lennox sent a video acceptance speech after being recognised with an honorary lifetime achievement award. The multi award-winning singer dedicates much of her time to raising awareness of the HIV/ AIDS pandemic in Africa as well as raising funds and awareness to tackle violence against women.

She has also called for “swift and full” compensation to Windrush Scandal victims.

Annie said in her video: “It’s such an amazing thing to be given an award like this. I don’t do what I do to receive awards.

“It’s a desire to make a positive contribution to this world, that is sometimes so completely broken and so beautiful at the same time.

“There are billions of us, good people that want to create bridges not gaps. We don’t want to fight each other. I’m just one of them.”

On accepting his Honorary Inspirational Entrepreneur award, Levi said: “I remember the day so vividly when I went on Dragons’ Den. I was told, ‘Don’t sing,’ but I took my guitar with me…and here we are.”

All photos: Saul Morgan

TV and music stars and community champions among MBCC Award recipients. By Linda Aitchison

A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION: Left, MBCC superstar hosts Judi Love and Omar; above, Paulette Simpson CBE, far left, Deputy CEO, Corporate Affairs JN Bank UK and Director of The Voice, joined with Jamal Qurban and Nikolina Austin from Amazon, one of the main sponsors, to present an award to the late Benjamin Zephaniah’s sisters Millicent and Joyce; right, Paul Canoville with Dal Darroch of the FA and radio star Angie Greaves

SISTERHOOD: Beverley Knight, left, with Alison Hammond after presenting her with an Honorary Inspirational Role Model award; above inset left, Levi Roots welcomed to the stage by Knight

7 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2022

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News Feature

RACISM REMAINS A MAJOR BARRIER TO REPARATIONS

The founder of the Repair Campaign is leading latest bid for ‘justice’ for Caribbean region. By Vic Motune

R

ACIAL INEQUALITY is one of the biggest obstacles to reparatory justice for the Transatlantic slave trade, according to a leading businessman based in the Caribbean.

Denis O’Brien, founder of The Repair Campaign, made his comments at the UNESCO Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination in Barcelona recently.

O’Brien stressed the need for former colonial powers to confront the legacy of slavery and its enduring impacts on societies, particularly in the Caribbean.

“For over two decades, I have witnessed the enormous potential that exists in the Caribbean. But I have also seen first hand how this region has been ravaged by brutal colonisation and the Transatlantic slave trade,” he said. “It is evasive and simplistic to dismiss those as historic events. The truth is their impacts are still very much felt today – socially, economically, and psychologically.”

The UNESCO Forum, now in its fourth year, brings together global leaders, activists and experts to advance the fight against racism.

CAMPAIGNER: Caribbeanbased entrepreneur Denis O’Brien, above, founder of The Repair campaign, said at UNESCO’s anti-racism forum that racial inequality hinders reparatory justice. He urged former colonial powers to confront slavery’s enduring impact on the Caribbean (photos: Getty Images/ repaircampaign.org)

O’Brien, who founded Digicel, a major telecommunications provider in the Caribbean, described how his decades of work in the region had convinced him of the urgent need for reparations.

“The Caribbean region cannot prosper because it is held back by public health crises, crippling debt, lack of access to education, inter-generational trauma, and a multitude of other issues that have their roots in colonialism and chattel slavery,” he explained. “The region will only heal socially and economically if the legacy of slavery is addressed.”

He went on: “Racism was culti-

vated by those benefiting from Transatlantic slavery and colonialism. They used it as a way of justifying their crimes and dehumanising the people they were kidnapping and trafficking around the world.”

The businessman also linked the persistence of racism today to the exploitation of enslaved Africans and argued that the continuing failure of the former colonial powers to acknowledge this will continue to act as a barrier to reparations, perpetuating inequality and deflecting responsibility.

“Instead of blaming countries in the Caribbean for failing to prosper,

Over the past decade, their former colonisers need to recognise that underdevelopment is organisations such as the a direct consequence of slavery and CARICOM Reparations Commission have intensified efforts to seek colonialism,” he said. justice for the region’s exploitation “A programme of reparations is during the era of slavery. not a simple matter of cash – it is Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia an acknowledgment of the wrongs Mottley has been one of the most of the past, including the wrong prominent voices in the reparations of racism. If we wish to dismantle movement, arguing that meaningracism, the countries that built ful redress is critical to addressing their wealth through colonialism and slavery must acknowledge their the economic and social disparities past crimes and apologise for them.” rooted in slavery.

Speaking at international O’Brien’s comments come amid a growing movement among Carib- forums, she has criticised token bean leaders calling for reparations gestures, such as apologies and limited aid that fail to confront from Britain and other Western the structural damage caused by nations.

centuries of exploitation. While the calls for reparations from Mottley and other Caribbean leaders have gained some traction internationally in recent years, progress on a path forward remains slow.

Campaigners have echoed O’Brien’s comments that institutional racism is a significant barrier to reparatory justice.

Academics have also argued that the wealth amassed by colonial powers through slavery laid the foundation for modern-day inequalities, and that reparations represent an opportunity to address systemic disparities.

CORBYN: ‘BRITAIN MUST FACE THE TRUTH AND PAY WHAT IT OWES FOR SLAVERY’

JEREMY CORBYN has called on Britain to ‘stop dragging its feet’ on reparations for slavery during a special speech in Jamaica.

Speaking in Kingston, the Independent MP for Islington North called on the British government to engage in meaningful discussions about reparations.

Corbyn recently visited Jamaica and delivered his speech at the University of West Indies to commemorate the legacy of former Jamaican prime minister Michael Manley, according to a report by his Peace and Justice Project.

He said: “It is deeply ironic

that one of the reasons why reparations are a so-called historic issue is precisely because the West has dithered and delayed for so long. The longer Britain continues to drag its feet, the more the case for reparations grows.

“Decades of colonialism have created a profoundly unequal world that concentrates wealth and power in the hands of the global few. Reparations are about building something new and investing in healthcare, housing and education.”

The MP’s comments come after UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that

MESSAGE: Jeremy Corbyn urged Britain to engage in meaningful reparations discussions (photo: Getty Images) slavery reparations are “not about the transfer of cash” last month.

According to the BBC,

Lammy said conversations about reparations were not part of “the debate people are wanting to have”.

There has been growing pressure from Commonwealth leaders, who have said it’s time to discuss reparations for the horrors and legacy of the Transatlantic slave trade.

Concluding his speech in Kingston, Corbyn said: “Reparations are about truth and they are about justice — and that means recognising this nation’s role in crimes against humanity, no matter how uncomfortable that process of reflection may be.

“An important part of that reflection is acknowledging the following truth: Britain’s foundations were built off

the backs of others – of generations of enslaved and colonial subjects.”

Caribbean leaders have been basing their demands for justice on the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) 10-point Reparations Plan which has been hailed by campaigners as a comprehensive framework for reparatory justice.

The plan includes a full formal apology, debt cancellation, repatriation funding, educational programmes, and return of stolen cultural artefacts, alongside compensation for the descendants of enslaved people.

NOVEMBER 2024

THE VOICE | 23

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10 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

VOICES GETTING LOUDER FOR THE WEST TO PAY UP Exclusive: Reggae artists from around the world demand reparations for Caribbean and African nations impacted by the horrors of slave trade. By Sinai Fleary

R

EGGAE ARTISTS from around the world are demanding reparations for Caribbean and African nations impacted by the horrors of the Transatlantic slave trade.

These artists are lending their voices to the growing demands of Caribbean leaders for reparations for the trade, spotlighting the lasting impact of slavery on the region and its people.

Through their music and powerful platforms, they are echoing the calls of Caribbean leaders for justice, and highlighting the enduring economic and social inequalities rooted in the era of slavery.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, and Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, are among those championing reparations, arguing that the wealth of colonial powers was built on the exploitation of enslaved Africans.

And regional organisations like CARICOM have intensified their push for reparatory justice, outlining the systemic harm caused by slavery and its lingering effects on Caribbean

economies. Reggae has long been a vehicle for activism. Whether it is Burning Spear’s iconic anthem Slavery Days, which he asks throughout “Do you remember the days of slavery?”, Peter Tosh’s unapologetic 400 years, or Bob Marley’s heartfelt Redemption Song, reggae artists have always made significant contributions to raising awareness of slavery and the urgent need for reparations.

This has continued in more recent times as Jamaican artists likes of Sizzla, Anthony B, Buju Banton, and many others, have penned songs condemning the cruel and barbaric act of slavery.

“There are generational wounds and generational trauma that is embedded in the core of your DNA”

- Rocky Dawuni

Now a new generation of reggae stars like Kabaka Pyramid and Chronixx are continuing to do the same, with the call for reparations among musicians likely to just get louder.

Among this new generation is Ghanaian singer-songwriter Rocky Dawuni, a four-time Grammynominated artist, who believes no amount of money will ever be enough to compensate for how slavery destroyed the lives of millions of Black people.

He says the millions forcibly taken from the continent impacted not just individual families, but also the future development of Africa.

NOBLE According to Dawuni, reparations are needed to create a “level playing” field for people of African descent.

“The call for reparations is noble because there needs to be level playing ground,” he says in an interview with The Voice.

“A lot of our people, our thinkers, our leaders, our philosophers, scientists – people who were part of nurturing our society and building it and strengthening it – were also yanked and taken

from away us. It will take a long time again to really replenish that human capacity and resources that has been taken, although it is not overtly visible right now, but we know that it has cost us.”

He added it is imperative that any reparations also address the psychological impact that slavery has had on the continent and the African diaspora.

“There are generational wounds and generational trauma that is embedded in the core of your DNA,” he says.

According to Dawuni, tribalism and “cultural hierarchies” are just some examples of the “deep-seated tribal divisions” that are part of the legacy of slavery in modern-day Africa.

“I believe these were fostered during the early stages of slavery because you can only conquer a people if you turn them against each other.

“There was a system that came in and exploited the harmony and unity of the people and created division, and through that division they were not able to come together to fight it as a collective.”

It is estimated that more than 15 million African men, women and children were kidnapped and

DIVISION: Rocky Dawuni says the system exploited the harmony and unity of the people

sold into slavery in the Caribbean, South America and the United States in a period spanning 400 years.

Dawuni uses uplifting music to empower Black communities, highlighting their strength and history. His Grammy-nominated song Rise addresses racism, police brutality, and the legacy of slavery with powerful lyrics that call for action to ensure these injustices are never repeated again.

However, like many in the community, the singer has

some reservations about how reparations for the slave trade will be distributed and who will be in charge of facilitating it.

“Which hands are clean enough to make sure that this is something that goes to the investment into the plight of people of African descent who are the most discriminated upon and the most dispossessed in the diaspora” he says.

“Money and reparations also attract the worst kind, who are also coming for a second helping to take advantage of this to further

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 11

News Feature CLAIM: Dancehall icon Beenie Man says colourism is still rife in Jamaica

(photo: Getty Images)

LEGACY: Nicholas Dillon, above, believes one of the glaring legacies of slavery in the region is the “post-colonial structures.; right, Sizzla Kalonji referred to the diminishing availability of beaches at a recent concert (photo: Getty Images)

exploit people.” He continues: “We have to be careful in the long run that this does not become another opportunity for another form of exploitation.”

The call for reparations often faces the argument that African nations should bear responsibility because some were involved in the slave trade – a narrative Dawuni has heard and firmly rejects.

“The African nations did not have ships here, they didn’t have plantations, they didn’t come here with a business mind to capture people and go and subjugate them” he says.

“They were not the architects of that systemic plan. It is a push back to try and absolve certain people and certain powers of a crime against humanity that was committed a long time ago.”

According to the landmark, Brattle Report, Britain owes a staggering £18.6 trillion in reparations to the Caribbean and the Americas. The calculation was made by academics for the prestigious University of the West Indies (UWI) and takes into account the loss of liberty, forgone earnings, deprivation, mental

pain, intergenerational trauma, loss of heritage, differences in life expectancy, unemployment and income disparity after emancipation.

Addressing the ongoing impact of slavery in the Caribbean, dancehall legend Beenie Man said it had a direct link to colourism which is still rife in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean.

In a 2021 interview with The Voice, he said: “A brown man ah tell a Black man he’s better looking than him, that nuh make no sense.

“That is black-onblack racism, that is the worst type of racism to have.”

“Black-on-black racism is something deep which they beat into the heart of slaves from white people and it’s still in your DNA,” he added.

Nicholas Dillon is a reggae singer from Trinidad and Tobago, who performs internationally under his stage name D’Original Reverence.

He told The Voice, he fully supports reparations for Caribbean nations and describes slavery as a “human rights violation”.

“I absolutely support the call for reparations both past and present, including what is growing,” he says.

“One of the things that stands out profoundly is our lack of self-esteem, our lack of personal dignity.”

Dillon visits his twin-island home country regularly and said one of the glaring legacies of slavery in the region is the “post-colonial structures.”

“The hierarchy of who are the leaders or the upper class, the classism in the Caribbean is a direct link to the slavery systems that were present here, but it’s also evident in the day-to-day energy and vibration of the people.”

Like Beenie Man, the singer also noted issues surrounding colourism and said “the colour of the skin and complexion” of a person will often define who is given or “more afforded” better opportunities and who is not.

“Even in music, if you are of a lighter complexion the industry seems to let you go forward and ahead of others,” he says.

And the singer also believes there is still a “colonial presence” in Caribbean which means there is a fight to have a level playing field when POWERFUL it comes to things such as social and health MESSAGE: services and there is a Burning Spear’s huge problem with land Slavery Days is an acquisition.” iconic anthem Sizzla says that land

rights and the lack of access of local people to the country’s beaches, is one that is deeply tied to the legacy of the Transatlantic slave trade, an issue he has passionately addressed. Last year, he highlighted how those of a “Melanin type” are often denied access to beaches, reflecting historical inequalities rooted in colonialism and slavery.

During his recent performance at BRT Weekend in Jamaica, Sizzla said: “Every time we try and build up yah so, something round there sell out and gone.”

EXCLUSION Referring to the diminishing availability of beaches, he added: “The beaches dem gone. Look pon di girls dem, which part are we going to put them? They can’t turn up at the beaches again, no one is allowed. Especially if you are the Melanin type.”

His comments echo concerns raised by the Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement, which argues that the Beach Control Act of 1956 – a colonial-era law regulating beach access – is discriminatory and perpetuates the exclusion of Jamaicans, particularly Black Jamaicans, from enjoying their natural heritage.

Dillon says the Caribbean has great potential, but the region cannot be expected to fix all of the

issues which they did not create.

“A lot of people are illiterate, not just from an academic place but financially,” he says. “Historically, that has been a thing that has hampered our development in the Caribbean region.

“We have pockets of success where there are individuals and institutions that come out of our diaspora who stand out but as a child of the Caribbean, and now an adult, I still see this huge disparity.

The protection of basic human rights, which were stripped from us in the Caribbean during slavery, remains an ongoing issue.

We see it through Post-Traumatic Slavery Syndrome.”

The singer said this generation of Caribbean people must make it their duty to speak up for their ancestors.

“It is the duty of us the vanguards of our ancestors, who were enslaved, to do this for them.

“I feel like in this period in history the Caribbean region and the voice of the people are not as united for things like reparations and social justice because they have been pacified by distractions of social media and things that are not even relevant.

This continues the victimisation of the people and what amounts to a gross violations of their basic human rights.”

12 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

News

THE DOMINO EFFECT...

Liming with Gran: how a Caribbean tradition is opening doors to health conversations. By Vic Motune

SPECIAL EXPERIENCE: Liming with Gran captures the warm relationship between Jean and her grandson Tre as they play a uniquely designed set of dominoes, below, and talk about health and wellbeing

S

ITTING AROUND the kitchen table, Tre and his grandmother, Jean, are deep in a game of dominoes.

For Jean, it’s more than just a pastime – it’s a chance to enjoy the treasured connection she has with her grandson.

“When we talk about the difficult topics that we’ve shied away from for generations, magic can happen,” Jean says.

At 84, she’s seen how a lack of communication, especially about family health issues, can cast a long shadow.

“We can start to not only understand ourselves better, but we can use that to support our future generations to live healthier and happier lives too,” she adds.

For Tre, 29, this isn’t just another game night. It’s a chance to ask his grandmother about a range of things he might be concerned about including their family’s health history.

“I am really close to my grandmother and visit her regularly, so knowing that I can open up and ask these questions is really valuable,” he says. “I want others to feel comfortable to talk to each other while still loving each other’s company and spending quality time together.”

Their conversations form the heart of Liming with Gran, a new multimedia campaign that harnesses the Caribbean tradition of liming to break down barriers to discussing health and wellbeing in UK Caribbean communities.

Special bond Launched with a short film directed by award-winning TV ad director Tom Day, Liming with Gran focuses on the special bond

CAMPAIGN: Liming with Gran is being backed by a digital advertising push

between Windrush generation member Jean, who migrated to the UK in 1960, and her grandson.

The film captures the warmth of their relationship as they play a uniquely designed set of dominoes, each piece engraved with conversation prompts about health and wellbeing.

“Being a part of this project with my grandson was such a special experience, one that I will treasure forever,” says Jean.

“I hope that this project inspires many more to open up and speak about the taboo topics. These are the conversations that are so worthwhile to have.”

Liming – an integral part of Caribbean culture – is all about gathering with friends and family to share food, drinks, and conversation in a relaxed setting.

The bespoke dominoes used in the campaign are handcrafted with designs inspired by the UK Caribbean homes of the Windrush generation and the ocean blues of their homelands.

Each set serves as both a cultural artefact and a conversation starter. Twenty sets of these

dominoes have been distributed across barber shops, community centres, and churches in the UK, as well as to families in Kingston, Jamaica.

Health campaigners believe the combination of liming and dominoes is the perfect tool for tackling taboo topics like hereditary health conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect Caribbean communities, such as diabetes and prostate cancer.

“Genetics links us to our relatives, and genetic medicine serves whole families. But even the word ‘genetics’ can put many people off,” explains Professor Anna Middleton, from the University of Cambridge who is involved in the project.

“By using prompts on domino pieces, we’re making these conversations accessible – with no technical language needed.”

A cultural approach to healthcare For many people of Caribbean heritage living in the UK, distrust of medical institutions and stigma surrounding health issues can make it difficult to address conditions that run in families.

This campaign seeks to change that, using liming as a bridge. It is also supported by an outdoor digital advertising push in Caribbean heritage communities across the UK, aiming to normalize discussions about health.

Health conversations across generations The relaxed environment created by liming has already begun to show its potential. “If you tell me I need to sit in a workshop to talk about my health, I might not go,” says John Marcus, a retiree from Jamaica who recently heard

about the project. “But if it’s a lime with good food and music, I’ll be there – and I’ll probably learn something too.”

This idea also resonates with Arthur Torrington, Director of the Windrush Foundation.

He praised the domino game’s potential to spark meaningful conversations. “It’s a good way to get players to pause during a game and talk about health issues,” he says.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has lent his support, describing the campaign as an important way to encourage “open conversations and help people feel empowered to discuss their health in a range of familiar settings”.

Beyond the table In addition to fostering family discussions, Liming with Gran is being applied in academic re-

search. A PhD student at the University of Cambridge is using the domino sets in her study on sickle cell disease, a condition that disproportionately affects Caribbean people.

The campaign’s creators, the University of Cambridge, Genomics England, and creative agency Ketchum, hope this innovative approach will inspire other health initiatives.

The aim is simple yet ambitious: to destigmatise sensitive topics and help families understand their genetic health, one lime at a time.

“It’s time to democratise conversations about genetics,” says Middleton. “Making health information relevant and relatable can empower communities and individuals.”

REPORT URGES CULTURALLY SENSITIVE HOUSING FOR DIVERSE OLDER COMMUNITIES

A NEW government-backed report has called for urgent action to address the housing needs of the UK’s increasingly diverse ageing population.

The report, Our Future Homes: Housing that Promotes Wellbeing and Community for an Ageing Population, highlights the need for culturally sensitive, age-friendly housing to support older people’s independence, wellbeing, and

cultural identities. With the number of people aged over 65 set to grow significantly by 2040, the report warns that current housing options are inadequate.

It estimates that only 7,000 age-appropriate homes are built annually, far short of the 30,000–50,000 needed. Many older people live in homes unsuited to their needs, while private options remain unaffordable for many.

The report recommends

creating housing that accommodates cultural and faith practices, encourages community connections, and supports multigenerational living.

Paavan Popat, a Taskforce member, said: “Older people deserve communities where they can live with dignity, celebrate their cultural identities, and enjoy the support they need in later life.”

Professor Julienne Meyer CBE, Chair of the Older

People’s Taskforce, called for “brave” national leadership and proposed establishing an Office for an Ageing Population. “This is a crisis that demands urgent attention,” she said.

The Taskforce urges developers, policymakers, and local authorities to act on the recommendations, emphasising that culturally inclusive housing can enrich communities and address broader societal challenges.

CHALLENGE: A report urges action on housing to meet the needs of the UK’s diverse ageing population (photo: Getty Images)

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 13

WINDRUSH MAN’S DAUGHTER LOSES RIGHT TO STAY IN UK

FIGHTING: Jeanell Hippolyte has said she will challenge the High Court decision

Mother-of-two left devastated after Home Office rules she doesn’t meet criteria to be given British citizenship. By Sinai Fleary

A

BLACK woman whose father came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation has lost her right to stay in the UK after bringing a High Court challenge.

Jeanell Hippolyte, 41, has two children who were born in the UK, and her sister and two brothers have been given indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK under the Windrush scheme because of their father’s status.

But Hippolyte, who has been denied ILR status for more than 20 years, brought a High Court challenge to try and reverse the decision but was unsuccessful.

The BBC reported her lawyers argued her case was “identical” to those of her brothers, but the Home Office said her bid was “lawfully refused”.

In the ruling, Mr Justice Clive Sheldon dismissed Hippolyte’s case, saying she had not suffered a “historic injustice”.

He said: “The Secretary of State would have been highly likely to decide that, although the claimant was a child of a member of the Windrush generation, her claim was not really equivalent to a Windrush scheme claim, as she, and her father, Cletus Hippolyte, had not suffered a historic injustice.

“The Secretary of State would have been highly likely to decide that there was no reason therefore for the Secretary of State to make an exception to the Windrush scheme in the claimant’s case.”

“I hope to appeal the judgement and fight on for the right to stay in the UK, which is my home and is also my children’s home”

Born in Castries, St Lucia, Hippolyte arrived in the UK in August 2000 when she was 17.

Her father, Cletus, had travelled to the UK in 1956 as part of the Windrush generation and by the time he was joined by his daughter, his presence and status would have given her eligibility for an application for ILR. However, her applications have been repeatedly denied, despite legal interventions and pleas on her behalf.

The Home Office has defended its decision on the basis that she has not been continuously resident in the UK since she arrived in 2000.

However, as her continuous residency would have been dependent on her father proving his own immigration status, and he was not officially granted ILR until 2003 and then British citizenship in 2018, she had to leave the UK after her student visa expired in 2002.

Her subsequent applications to return to the UK, made in February 2006 and 2008, were refused.

From 2008 until summer 2020, Hippolyte lived between the UK and St Lucia. She has been continuously in the UK since August 10, 2020.

Meanwhile, her sister was granted British citizenship as a result of her application to the Windrush scheme in 2018.

In 2007, her brothers arrived in the UK and were denied ILR and overstayed and were later granted indefinite leave to remain through the Windrush scheme and naturalised in 2019.

Following a visit to St Lucia in 2019, Cletus Hippolyte disappeared and is now, sadly, presumed to be dead.

The mother-of-two said she was “devastated” by the ruling.

“It will turn my own life and that of my children upside down,” she said. “I hope to appeal the judgement and fight on for the right to stay in the UK, which is my home and is also my children’s home.”

News

14 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Special Feature

ADVERTORIAL

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London hosts the 4th annual gathering of innovation, empowerment, and connection for Black entrepreneurs

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JANUARY 2025

THE VOICE | 15

Special Feature

ADVERTORIAL

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16 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Opinion

Daniella Maison

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

A YEAR OF SELF-CARE FOR BLACK WOMEN The unique experiences of Black women remain a pressing issue.

As we enter the new year, we must take time to prioritise our well-being

M A R Y F R A N C E S Winters said it best on the topic of ‘Black fatigue’ when she likened it to a “dull droning sound that is always present”.

It is not of our making, but for the sake of our wellness, we need to understand and acknowledge the toll of Black womanhood and the urgent need for self-care.

As I sit typing this column, my doctor has advised me that I am suffering with exhaustion.

Dizziness, migraines, sore muscles, blurred vision; the inevitable fallout of weeks spent juggling my teething 21-month-old baby with fulltime writing; life, expectations, and everything in between. I’m burned out.

My mother tells me to slow down. Drink more water. Cut back on things. Sleep when my baby sleeps. But my list of tasks keeps stacking and stacking.

EXHAUSTION Of course, I’m not alone.

Superwoman schema, authenticity exhaustion, belonging burnout, martyrbased motherhood, every single one of my circle of women is experiencing at least one.

It’s an exhaustion that is born of ‘the day-to-day’ of life on the intersection. Self-care is more vital than ever, yet true rest remains elusive. We need to change that. The statistics on how this status quo is disproportionately affecting our health speak for themselves.

The health disparities run the gamut for Black women from birth to death.

“You don’t always have to be creating, doing, and ‘contributing’ to the world. Your birth grants you rest and leisure as well,” tweeted Tricia Hersey, founder of online platform The Nap Ministry. In that regard, it’s important to remember that tiredness is more than stiff shoulders and sore feet.

It’s systemic, it’s historical, it’s ingrained.

Misogynoir has long told Black women that we cannot sit down and rest, because we must work twice as hard to be respected and rewarded. It’s our ongoing battle, the responsibility to work twice as hard. Our success is the exception and our failure is the rule.

I don’t know if we have ever really had time to pause and consider what the consequences of this burden would look like; we just wanted to get there, to make our ancestors proud. To show the parents and grandparents who made unforgettable journeys in the Windrush, and grafted in icy and unwelcoming climates, that their sacrifices were worth it.

We observe our mothers putting themselves last, struggling to be heard and seen, contending with stereotypes and social demands. We unknowingly repeat this intergenerational traumatic pattern, our health suffers, and the loop continues.

We immerse ourselves in our careers, glass ceilings and cliffs that take mammoth strength to climb and shatter.

A significant part of our hardship is trying to be authentically heard in contribution is stifled. It takes environments where our so much strength, in fact, that it affects our mental health, deprives us of balance, impacts our overall health and eventually Misogynoir has becomes our norm.

It’s satisfying to be labelled a long told Black #bosslady for building careers and families, code-switching and women we cannot hat swapping at the same time. let’s not glamorize it. It’s sit down and But messy. I often feel like I’m in the and the trenches are rest, because we trenches, grisly.

This cycle of self-neglect has must work twice become detrimental. Embracing involves recognising that as hard to be self-care our needs are just as important respected. It’s our as those of others. By prioritising their own happiness and health, ongoing battle. Black women can break this cycle and model healthier behaviours Our success is the for future generations.

One thing is undeniable: we exception and are achievers. Our ascension is outstanding. But as women, we’re failure is the rule in a constant state of burnout, and we say this with fear of

CYCLE OF SELF-NEGLECT: The unique challenges faced by Black women stem from historical and structural factors.

Prioritising selflove is essential for fostering well-being and breaking societal expectations, says Daniella Maison (photo: Getty Images)

judgment — because we don’t want sympathy. We want equity, acknowledgement, equality and inclusion.

In a world that mostly overlooks, or underplays, the nuances of intersectionality, the unique experiences of Black women remain a pressing issue. Our exhaustion is not merely a product of individual circumstances; rather, it is deeply rooted in historical, social, and structural factors that collaborate to create a pervasive sense of fatigue.

TRAUMA The legacy of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism has left an indelible mark on the lives of Black women.

This historical trauma has not just shaped our experiences; it has also contributed to our ongoing struggle for dignity and recognition in a society that marginalises us.

In spite of all this, we persist.

Addressing the exhaustion of Black women as a public health crisis requires a collective effort to dismantle the systemic barriers we face. This includes advocating for equitable healthcare, promoting representation in leadership roles, and challenging societal stereotypes that dictate how Black women should behave.

It’s vital for communities to foster open dialogues about mental health that welcome Black women to seek support without fear of stigma.

The concept of self-care is not just a personal choice but a radical act of resistance. The importance of prioritising self-care cannot be overstated; it is essential to our progression. It encourages Black women to prioritise our needs, set boundaries, abandon stereotypes, and seek professional help when necessary.

In a society that often seeks to diminish our worth, Black

women must prioritise our own love and acceptance as an act of defiance and a pathway to holistic well-being. The burden is on everyone to foster a culture of support that allows Black women to thrive, free from the weight of expectation.

When we look back at the sum total of our lives one day, we will want to be remembered for more than the roles we juggled. We are whole, fearfully and wonderfully made women and human beings.

So here’s to the mothers, the workers, the brave. To the hearts that are heavy, the dreams that we strive for.

May we find moments to breathe, to exhale, to reclaim the joy in our journey and the spark in our flame.

May 2025 be our year of resting in our beautiful, Black femininity.

WRITER, ACTIVIST AND AUTHOR DANIELLA MAISON’S NEW BOOK, THE N WORD, PUBLISHED BY AUSTIN MACAULAY, IS OUT NOW.

JANUARY 2025

THE VOICE | 17

Special Feature

ADVERTORIAL

Picture Credit: Art by Waheeda Rahman-Mair

CULTURE COMICS: Graphic Novel Competition

Opal22 Arts and Edutainment, in partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, proudly presents the Culture Comics: GRAPHIC NOVEL COMPETITION. Open to young people aged 12-18 across the UK, this competition invites participants to craft original stories and graphics. They will be judged by Bobby Joseph, a renowned comic creator and the UK’s first Comics Laureate of colour.

About Bobby Joseph: Bobby Joseph is celebrated for his innovative contributions to the comic world, including his cult classic Skank magazine. His iconic strip, Scotland Yardie, was the first diverse graphic novel to be included in an English Literature MA course at King’s College, London.

Bobby Joseph

COMPETITION DETAILS Open for ages 12–15:

Answer the prompt “Black Culture is...” Show us what black culture is to you. Whether that’s ancient mythology, unforgettable tales, or the funniest story you have ever heard – let your imagination run wild!

For ages 16–18:

Answer the question “Why Vote?”

Show why voting matters to you!

Whether it’s rallying for national Ice Cream Eating Day or advocating for meaningful political change to make the world more exciting.

Prizes & Opportunities for the lucky winners • An Exclusive invite to a workshop with Comics Laureate Bobby Joseph in Leicester.

• Your work published into a Graphic Novel Anthology • Your work displayed in a public exhibition in Leicester.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: • Competition Opens: 1st December 2024 • Eligibility: Open to ages 12–18 • Submission Length: No longer than two A4 pages HOW TO SUBMIT: • Digital: Acceptable formats include PDF, JPEG, or PNG • Post: Send entries to: Opal22, Studio 9, Phoenix Studios, 253–255 Belgrave Gate, Leicester, LE1 3HU DEADLINE: 2ND MARCH 2025 Scan the QR code for more details!

Funded by National Lottery Community Fund.

18 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Dotun Adebayo

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

Rate him or hate him - you can’t ignore him!

The world’s most famous inter-racial marriage is about to face one of its ultimate tests

IT’S BLACK AND WHITE: Harry is the one who’s had to adapt and build on his ‘Blackness’ for Meghan

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LL EYES are on Meghan and Harry this new year. And for good reason. On May 19 it will be exactly seven years since they got hitched. And you know what seven years means in love.

It means that this year will be the biggest test their marriage has ever known.

They will be tested and their commitment to each other will be pushed to its limit every time they step out solo into the limelight. Already the vultures of the media are circling around the couple in anticipation of wars and rumours of war between them, and in hopeful expectation that the so-called seven-year itch will need scratching at some point in 2025.

I wish Harry and Meghan well.

I really do. They are the world’s leading ‘bi-racial’ royals and clearly have an important role to play in a world where ‘mixed-race’ is ‘the new Black’.

As have their children who, when they are eventually unveiled to the world, will have their every lock of hair analysed under a telescopic lens for kinks by a media fixated by their ‘Blackness’.

If they end 2025 still together they will have won a major victory over the haters and, if they can survive this year, they can survive forever.

But for me, it’s not about how Black or not Meghan is. It’s more about how Black Harry is becoming.

You can see why, can’t you?

He is becoming more and more Black for his own survival. He has to ‘cos we’re the survivors — the Black survivors. Harry’s getting so Black, indeed, that we’re soon going to have to hail him up as a bredrin.

I mean, I don’t know what it’s like to be a White guy married to a Black woman, but I imagine it’s no different than it is for us.

Whether you’re Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian or Star Wars producer George Lucas with his wife Mellody Hobson.

Robert De Niro is another one who knows what it’s like to be a White guy. He married Diahanne Abbott before going on to marry Grace Hightower. And we know already how former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker loves his

CAN HARRY AND MEGHAN SURVIVE SEVEN -YEAR ITCH? brownings. But none of these ‘equal opportunity’ daters have had to put up with the same White guy with a Black wife nonsense that Harry has to put up with.

And you know how you can’t take being humiliated and belittled in front of your woman on account of the way Black men were treated back in dem slavery days, I guess it’s the same for Harry. Reading some of the stuff they write about him and his missus must do his nut in. No, it can’t be easy being a White guy. And

Already the vultures of the media are circling around the couple in anticipation of wars and rumours of war between them

of course his family is over there in the US and they are Black. Or at least his mother-in-law who is out there in California with them is Black like you and me and our culture comes with her. For free.

Remember how the now king showed up on the day back in 2018 to give away the bride? Remember how Meghan’s mum sat proudly in St George’s Chapel in Windsor somewhat gobsmacked at her daughter’s ascendancy to royalty? For a day we all believed in fairy tales.

And after a while soaking up the Blackness — eating what we eat, getting our sense of humour and feeling us, you know — really feeling us, the Blackness starts to rub off. You can’t help it.

Like my mate Terry, he is cockney through and through and through and through. And I know you’re going to say it’s a stereotype but he’s the kind of White guy who will step out on a dancefloor full of Black guys and start dancing like Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal all around them. And he’s just chilled all around us. Yes, you can say it’s a stereotype and then you see him with his missus and you realise Terry is Black. A

White Black guy. Or the other way around.

Prince Harry is just like Terry. I swear. Apart from the way he talks. Just like Harry, Terry had to put up with a lot of nonsense being a White guy dating a Black woman back in the day. A lot of nonsense.

That’s why he’s tough.

Hard as nails. Don’t take no chat from nobody.

It’s entirely down to Harry whether he ends this year still hitched to his duchess or not. He is clearly still besotted with her. You can see it every time they step out into the harsh and blinding flashlight of the public gaze. You can see it in his eyes, in his smile and in the way he steps back a little so she can shine. That is the hallmark of a man in love. Deeply in love.

Hopelessly in love, as my wife sings. The only question is how are they going to make it through the year?

That’s why you’ve got to lean more heavily on the Black side of your dual heritage if you’re a White guy dating a Black wom-

an as your White side can’t really help you because it’s not accustomed to some of the things you’re going to have to go through as a White guy dating a Black woman so it can’t help you, it can’t answer the questions for you or help you navigate your way around the landscape you’re going to face.

At the end of the day, this isn’t really about celebrities and royals and the great and the good,

it’s about you and me.

Because we could all do with leaning a little bit more on our Blackness in 2025 in the way Prince Harry has. Whether in our private lives or our coming in and our going out. It’s in our Blackness that the strength lies to see us through all the challenges that this year will bring because that Blackness has been through a lot, and it is as tough as leather.

Whatever you think of the royals, Harry keeps me on my toes in this ‘til death do us part business of love. ‘Cos anything he can do... l Dotun Adebayo, Britain’s

most celebrated Black broadcaster, is known as the King of the Nighttime Airwaves. All views here are his own. Listen to him overnight on BBC 5 Live from 1-5am Saturday mornings – Monday mornings & 1am – 4am on BBC Radio London (Wednesday to Friday mornings). Follow him on X: @radiodotun

JANUARY 2025

THE VOICE | 19

20 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

News Features SAD STATISTICS: Unconscious bias in healthcare prevents many Black women with endometriosis from being believed, delaying their diagnoses and worsening health disparities, says Sanchia Alasia (right)

MISSION: Gina Miller and Timothy Campbell are behind a platform offering jargon-free investment solutions

DUO AIMING TO HELP WOMEN TRAPPED BY FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

‘I WAITED 20 YEARS FOR MY ENDOMETRIOSIS DIAGNOSIS’

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MAGINE spending half your life waiting for answers to chronic pelvic pain, painful periods, painful sex, pain going to the toilet and other debilitating symptoms.

This is the sad reality for many in the Black community and other groups in the UK when it comes to endometriosis, a menstrual health condition impacting one in 10 women.

Amid concerns that getting a diagnosis of the disease may be particularly challenging for people of colour, the charity Endometriosis UK is investigating the barriers, and asking the Black community to share its experiences.

Leonie Sherif, from east London, is a music producer and businesswoman, as well as being a volunteer in Endometriosis UK’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion forum.

“It took me more than 20 years to get a diagnosis of endometriosis, from first having symptoms at age 13, through to getting my diagnosis two and a half years ago,” Sherif says, adding that the wait included a missed opportunity to diagnose the disease during a surgery in 2015, which was not performed by an endometriosis specialist.

“It causes you to feel like you’re going mad, because you know what you’ve been experiencing for years on end, but then there’s just no answer to this pain, so you

Black women aren’t believed when it comes to the debilitating condition. By Sanchia Alasia feel like you’re not being believed,” adds Sherif.

Sanchia Alasia, a trustee of Endometriosis UK and leader of its Romford support group, got her diagnosis back in 2010 after 15 years of unexplained suffering.

“At one point in my diagnosis journey, I was told by a gynaecologist: ‘It would be unusual for me, as a Black woman, to have endometriosis’.”

Alasia recalls. “It’s not really clear whether or not that is true on a population level — like with many issues around endometriosis, there just isn’t enough research and evidence.

“Regardless of whether the Black community is slightly more or less prone, it is undeniably the case that there are still many Black women with endometriosis, and it worries me that that stereotype, or other unconscious bias in the health system, means that Black women aren’t being listened to and believed and it’s making it even harder to get that diagnosis.”

An Endometriosis UK report in March 2024 showed the average time to get a diagnosis in the UK is eight years and 10 months — a

STRUGGLES: Leonie Sherif figure that has grown from eight years in 2020.

But with many respondents to the survey choosing not to respond to the ethnicity question, that data “does not fully represent experiences of diagnosis of those from marginalised ethnic groups”, the report says.

To address that gap, Endometriosis UK has partnered with Cysters, a community health charity, to run a new survey — Endometriosis diagnosis delays in people of colour — which the organisations will use to share future NHS and Government policies.

“By encouraging those from

underrepresented communities to share their experiences through this survey, they will be helping us to advocate for the changes that are needed, backed by evidence from their communities,” explains Cysters founder Neelam HeeraShergill, adding that the charity hopes it will “pave the way” for additional research on menstrual health issues impacting people of colour.

If these long-term goals are achieved, women like Leonie might have a brighter future. “I do have happiness in my life,” she reflects.

“I enjoy my work, mentoring young people in music, and my creative pursuits. But [endometriosis] has impacted so many areas of my life — perhaps things could have been different today if I’d been diagnosed so much sooner and not had to wait so long.” l Sanchia Alasia is an awardwinning Equality Diversity and Inclusion expert and speaker with 20 years’ experience driving change in organisations. A trustee for Endometriosis UK, she helped shape the charity’s first diversity strategy l For more information on endometriosis, and the support channels offered by Endometriosis UK, go to www. endometriosisuk.org or scan the QR code here

NEW RESEARCH from MoneyShe, the wealth management firm founded by entrepreneur and activist Gina Miller, has revealed that one in three women feel trapped in a relationship or situation due to a lack of financial independence.

The findings, which highlight the critical link between financial security and personal freedom, also show that over 75 per cent of women in the UK are not confident they can afford a comfortable retirement.

Miller, best known for her high-profile Brexit legal challenges, described financial independence as “vital for women’s safety, security, and freedom”.

Sharing her own experience of financial domestic abuse, she said: “It didn’t happen overnight.

It was a series of behaviours that led me to rely on him to manage our finances.

When I left, I had nothing. I am determined to change this through MoneyShe, providing women with the tools, education, confidence, and investment solutions to empower them for a lifetime of success, resilience, and choice.”

The research exposes the challenges women face when it comes to investing.

Some 43 per cent of respondents admitted they lack confidence in making investment decisions, while nearly a quarter said they felt they did not know enough about investment options. To address this gap, MoneyShe has launched

a platform tailored for women, offering jargon-free, accessible, and sustainable investment solutions. The initiative aims to close the gender investment gap by helping women gain the financial confidence to leave abusive situations, fund personal goals, and secure their futures.

Timothy Campbell MBE, the first winner of The Apprentice, has joined Miller in championing MoneyShe’s mission.

SECURE Reflecting on his own experience, Campbell said: “The industry gatekeepers use intimidating language, which I know from speaking to my wife, daughter, and female friends contributes to the gender investment gap. I want all women to access the benefits of investing and feel secure that they have the choices financial freedom affords.”

MoneyShe’s platform, which requires a minimum investment of £10,000 and monthly contributions of £200, seeks to make investing more inclusive than traditional wealth management services. Both Miller and Campbell invest alongside clients under the same terms, reinforcing their shared commitment to women’s financial empowerment.

The research highlights an urgent need for action, with 85 per cent of women saying they value saving for life goals but often lack the knowledge or confidence to take the first step.

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 21

News Feature

CELEBRATING OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

British Caribbean Doctors and Dentists Association’s gala dinner is a night to remember. By Vic Motune

SHARED VISION: Dr Rochelle Pierre, left, (chair and founder, BCDD) and Dr Stacey Bryan (vice chair, BCDD)

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HEN Dr Rochelle Pierre and Dr Stacey Bryan launched the British Caribbean Doctors and Dentists Association (BCDD) in 2020, they were driven by a shared vision: to see a healthcare system where Black Caribbean people would no longer face glaring inequalities or poor healthcare.

Both women, who grew up in Hackney, east London, have forged successful medical careers — Dr Pierre, who is of St Lucian heritage is an NHS Anaesthetic Registrar and Dr Bryan, whose family is from Jamaica, is a gynaecological cancer surgeon.

But they understood firsthand the barriers faced by people from the British Caribbean community in accessing quality care and pursuing medical careers.

The launch of BCDD was also inspired by the tragic loss of Dr Pierre’s close friend, Chad Alexander Solomon, to renal medullary carcinoma.

Since its formation four years ago, the charity they founded has come a long way.

BCDD recently held its inaugural Black Excellence gala dinner, a glittering event held at north London’s Regency Banqueting Suite.

The evening celebrated the achievements of people of Caribbean heritage in the medical profession, raised critical funds for the charity’s groundbreaking work, and served as a rallying cry to tackle health disparities that persist within Britain’s Caribbean community.

An evening of inspiration and celebration The event welcomed 170 esteemed guests, including doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, and other professionals.

As attendees arrived, steel pan music filled the air before guests sat down to a three-course Caribbean meal.

Jamaica National (JN) and The Voice were among the proud sponsors of the event. JN donated the gate prize and The Voice donated part of the proceeds from its book sale on the night. And both companies pledged their commitment to support the BCDD’s work.

KEYNOTE SPEECH: Beverley De Gale OBE and Orin Lewis OBE shared the story of their late son Daniel sport and a medical career. DeBut it was the speakers who spite injuries and challenges, her stole the show, delivering movresilience and determination to ing, inspirational addresses that achieve has defined her path. The underscored the night’s theme of keynote speech was delivered resilience and excellence.

by Beverley De Gale OBE and Among them was Dr Michael Orin Lewis OBE, founders of the Beckles, a leading respiratory African Caribbean Leukaemia physician with over 30 years Trust (ACLT). of experience. Dr Beckles, who They shared the story of their specialises in diagnosing and late son Daniel’s diagnosis with managing lung cancer, shared leukaemia when he was sixhis journey from facing racial barriers to becoming a pioneer in years-old.

Their work is driven by a belief his field. that no one should die waiting Equally inspiring was Dr for a donor to become available Layla Guscoth, a former England and stressed the importance of Netball Team captain and now a people in the Black community Core Anaesthetics Trainee. coming forward as donors.

Dr Guscoth captivated the The evening ended with guests audience with her account of dancing to reggae, soca, and balancing the demands of elite calypso in a joyous celebration of Caribbean culture and achievement.

JOURNEY: Dr Michael Beckles is a pioneer in his field

Building a lasting legacy The event’s success is a testament to BCDD’s growing impact, but also a reminder of the work ahead that Pierre and Bryan are planning to address the healthcare needs of Britain’s Caribbean community.

BCDD’s mission is twofold: to improve health literacy within the Caribbean community and to inspire the next generation of Black medical professionals.

Through educational seminars and workshops, the organisation wants to address the disproportionate impact on members of the community of health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Also BCDD’s outreach programmes encourage young people to

consider careers in medicine and dentistry — fields where Caribbean representation remains dishearteningly low.

Since its inception, BCDD has gained national recognition, winning prestigious accolades such as the Best Healthcare Organisation and Excellence in Community Health Service at the Caribbean Global Awards.

In 2021, its work in highlighting the underrepresentation of Caribbean students in medical schools earned a prize at the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) Conference.

Yet, for all the growing accolades, its team remains grounded in the charity’s vision in achieving change for the community it serves.

“We are passionate about ensuring our community achieves the best healthcare from the best providers who they can relate

GUESTS: The event was well supported by healthcare professionals from across the country

to” said Dr Pierre. “My own life experiences have highlighted the necessity of our work. Support will help us to empower members of the Caribbean community to achieve the healthcare they deserve and eradicate

health inequalities. It will also help us to assist young people in their journeys to become doctors or dentists. Join us in making a meaningful difference and showcasing your commitment to global health equity.”

22 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

News

DEEP RACIAL INEQUALITIES IN BRITAIN’S LABOUR MARKET

Black Britons from top backgrounds three times more likely to experience downward mobility, study finds. By Vic Motune

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OUNG BLACK Britons from professional and advantaged backgrounds are up to three times more likely to experience downward mobility compared to their White peers, a new study by the University of Kent has revealed.

The research, led by Dr Robert de Vries, Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Sociology, below, highlights systemic barriers that prevent Black families from maintaining their socio-economic status across generations.

Despite having parents in highstatus roles such as doctors, lawyers, or executives, many Black Britons fall into workingclass jobs by the age of 30, exposing entrenched racial inequalities in Britain’s labour market.

Dr de Vries’ analysis of 8,000 individuals’ career outcomes found that Black men from professional families are three times more likely to move downward than their White counterparts. Black women face similar challenges, being twice as likely as White women to experience downward mobility.

Even when education levels are accounted for, the disparities persist.

The University of Kent academic said that his findings served as a stark reminder that even for families who ‘do everything right’ – pursuing education, securing well-

paid careers, and building strong foundations for their children – systemic racial inequalities continue to undermine their progress.

“This research shows that even when Black families make it to the top, their children are much more likely to fall back down the social ladder than are the children of privileged White families,” he told The Voice.

“This means that racial economic disparities in the UK will not be solved by upward mobility alone.

“The most prestigious jobs in Britain are dominated by the children of advantaged, middleclass, White families who tend to maintain their position at the top across generations, whereas Black families – even those where parents may be lawyers, doctors, or accountants –struggle to do the same,” he said.

Dr de Vries attributes this downward mobility to several interconnected factors, including a lack of multi-generational wealth in the Black community, lack of access to influential networks, and structural biases.

“If you’re a Black professional family, for example there are two parents who are lawyers, they are likely to be the first generation in the family to reach that level. In contrast, White professional families often come from a background of multi-generational advantage, which provides significant benefits,” he explained.

FRUSTRATED: Research

by University of Kent academic Dr Robert de Vries reveals that many young Black Britons, despite coming from high status professional backgrounds, still face downward mobility (photo: Getty Images)

Wealth, he noted, which supports upward mobility, is no longer determined solely by income but by accumulated assets over several generations. Black families, lacking this type of inherited wealth, often rely solely on their earnings to fund housing in areas with high-performing schools or pay for private education.

UNATTAINABLE “Today, houses in the catchment area for a top school like Alexandra Park School in north London for example cost at least £1.5 million. For most Black professionals wanting a good education for their children, that’s unattainable without family wealth. White families, by contrast, are more likely to have inherited assets or family assistance,” he added.

This wealth gap is compounded by differences in networks. White

families with long professional pirations and academic outcomes,” cially Black men, face in the labour histories are often able to leverage he said. market – even when they have the connections to help their children Teacher biases, he argued, play a same qualifications as their White access internships, graduate roles, significant role in undermining con- peers,” he said.

This includes measures to adand elite opportunities. But he fidence and academic success. dress racial bias in hiring processes, says, for many of today’s Black “If teachers don’t treat you as ensure greater equality in educaprofessionals, often first-generation someone with potential, give you tion, and provide support to help entrants into the middle class, these less attention, or place you in Black professionals build generanetworks are far less accessible. lower sets, it chips away at your “White families might have an confidence. Over time, struggling or tional wealth. uncle who works at a bank and can feeling ignored can make you disput in a good word for their child,” engage from academics altogether,” CYCLE he noted. “Without those kinds he explained. “For Black children of Without such changes, Dr de of networks, Black children face professionals, this can mean their Vries warns, Britain risks entrenchsignificant barriers to achieving the potential is overlooked, reinforcing ing a cycle where Black families same opportunities.” systemic barriers.” face disproportionate challenges in The University of Kent research While the findings paint a stark securing their futures, regardless of also points to barriers within the picture of racial inequalities, Dr de their achievements. education system as a major factor Vries argues that the roadblocks “Downward mobility is a in downward mobility, particularly to Black social mobility can be missing piece in the social mobility for Black women. addressed through targeted policy conversation,” he said. “Under“Many barriers occur long before changes. standing and tackling it is essential individuals reach the labour market, “Policy needs to address the bar- to achieving true racial equality in Britain.” with issues at school damaging as- riers that Black Britons, and espe-

LARRY GAINS HONOURED WITH BLUE PLAQUE IN SOUTHEND

A BLUE PLAQUE commemorating legendary Black Canadian boxer Larry Gains has been unveiled at the Shoeburyness Hotel in Southend-on-Sea, marking the culmination of a yearlong campaign led by his great-grandson, Michael Gains.

The ceremony, held on what would have been Gains’ 124th birthday, celebrated his remarkable career and

resilience in the face of racial discrimination. Gains, a former Canadian and British Empire heavyweight champion, was denied the chance to compete for world titles due to the racial “colour bar” in boxing during the early 20th century. Despite this, he defeated two future world champions, Max Schmeling and Primo Carnera, and remains an enduring figure in boxing history.

Michael Gains described the unveiling as “overwhelming” and said: “The journey has been up and down, but we’ve all worked so hard to make it happen. Hearing stories about him today made it even more special, especially sharing the moment with my son.”

The ceremony, hosted

by Dr Jak Beula of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, featured tributes from

Gains’ family, the Mayor of Southend, and the boxing community. A letter from former world champion Frank Bruno hailed Gains as a trailblazer who opened doors for generations of Black boxers. Southend resident Thomas Hannah shared personal anecdotes about Gains, recalling how his family supported the boxer during his training days.

Dr Beula highlighted Gains’ legacy, saying: “His story is not just about boxing but about breaking barriers.

The plaque ensures that his contributions are recognised and celebrated.”

The blue plaque, the 114th installed by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, is part of a broader project by the Gains family to preserve and share Larry Gains’ extraordinary story.

RESILIENCE: Larry Gains

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 23

‘AI FOR EVERYONE’ SCHEME LAUNCHED

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$1 MILLION initiative to tackle the digital divide in artificial intelligence (AI) has been launched by Colorintech, a leading non-profit dedicated to fostering diversity in the tech industry.

The “AI for Everyone” program, backed by the Juniper Networks Foundation, aims to create economic opportunities for underrepresented groups across the UK, including Black, minority ethnic, and other marginalized communities, amid growing concerns about their exclusion from the AI revolution.

The initiative comes as campaigners warn of the risks of a digital divide — a scenario where underserved communities are left behind as AI reshapes industries.

They argue that without targeted interventions, AI could exacerbate existing inequalities in employment, healthcare, and education.

Dion McKenzie, co-founder of

News

ated more than 6,000 participants from its programs and helped underrepresented founders raise over $50 million in funding. It also hosts one of London’s largest tech events, attracting 7,000 attendees this year.

The campaign aligns with broadcampaign including “Lunch & Colorintech, said: “The launch of er calls for equitable access to AI. Learn” sessions and online events Colorintech’s initiative comes at a Advocates stress that diversity in with AI leaders to demystify AI crucial time. As recent commenAI development not only ensures adoption. These events will explore tary from tech industry leaders fairness, it drives innovation claimhighlights, the UK faces a once-in- AI’s impact on the future of work ing it has the potential to be transa-generation opportunity to lead in and create pathways for meaningAI adoption but risks falling behind ful engagement in the AI economy. formative, but only if everyone has access to the tools and training without adequate investment in By 2027, the initiative aims to necessary to participate. digital skills.” train 5,000 individuals and reach They call for greater investment The “AI for Everyone” initiative 30,000 people through awareness in STEM education, diverse reprewill focus on three pillars: educacampaigns. sentation in AI teams, and policies The initiative builds on Coltion, awareness, and policy. to eliminate systemic biases in A key component is an accesorintech’s proven track record, following funding from Google.org AI systems. sible foundational AI course.

Colorintech’s initiative also seeks This curriculum will help AI Opportunity Fund to train over 300 individuals across the UK with to establish an Inclusive AI Workparticipants build skills to secure force advisory board, bringing critical AI skills. employment in AI-related fields.

Colorintech has won plaudits for together academics and industry Colorintech will also establish a leaders to shape best practices for its ability to bridge gaps between grant fund for AI entrepreneurs industry and underserved commu- inclusive AI development in the The organisation will also CRUCIAL TIME: Dion McKenzie, co-founder of Colorintech launch a nationwide awareness nities. The organisation has gradu- UK and Europe.

Colorintech’s $1 million initiative aiming to bridge the widening digital divide. By Vic Motune

24 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Midlands News

GAYLE’S A FORCE FOR GOOD IN FIGHT FOR LEGAL DIVERSITY Talented law student Jodiann is honoured at prestigious Inspirational Women in Law Awards

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BLACK COUNTRY law student has won a national award for her commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal industry.

Jodiann Gayle, from Walsall, who is studying for a Master of Laws at the University of Wolverhampton, clinched the Law Student of the Year Award at the Inspirational Women in Law Awards held at Clifford Chance, London.

In launching and operating the Legal ‘n’ Able initiative, Jodiann advocates for students with additional educational needs, empowering them to achieve success, both in education and in their careers, making the legal profession more accessible.

The Awards’ judges were impressed with her supplementing this with strong performances in national public speaking competitions, with leadership skills in bridging the gap between the law and laypeople, also her passion for social justice.

Speaking of her triumph,

Jodiann said: “This recognition means so much. It’s not just an honour, but a celebration of my resilience and the power of understanding my disability and pursuing my passions wholeheartedly.

“Standing alongside some of the most inspirational women in law, I could hardly believe I was among them.

“Even now, I’m still in awe receiving congratulations that make this achievement feel all the more incredible. Winning this award has been a powerful encouragement, and it’s

It’s a celebration of my resilience and the power of understanding my disability and pursuing my passions wholeheartedly

moments like these that truly ignite one’s self-belief. Having also been nominated for (other) awards, this acknowledgment is made even more meaningful by the outpouring of support from friends, colleagues, students and University staff who have believed in me.

Their encouragement has been incredible and humbling.

“The work I do isn’t always easy, but I thank God that it feels natural to me. If through my efforts I can make a difference for even one person, I consider that a significant accomplishment.”

On her future targets, Jodiann added: “My ambition is to harness all the transferable skills I’ve gained to continue breaking down barriers for disabled individuals and to support students along their journeys. My goal is to become the best commercial lawyer I can be, catalysing change in the profession and, one day, establishing my own practice.

“This journey is a dream in progress, and I’m excited to see where it will lead.”

HONOURED: Jodiann flanked by Lucie Allen, left, Managing Director at Barbri Global, and Susanna McGibbon, Treasury Solicitor & Permanent Secretary at the Government’s Legal Department

n News in brief n RESIDENTS across Leicestershire have made clear their expectations for a strong and effective neighbourhood policing service to keep them safe.

More than 2,700 residents responded to a countywide survey seeking to canvass residents’ views on where funding should be directed to improve public safety over the next four years. When quizzed on the theme of workforce efficiency, most people ranked

the need for officers to operate efficiently, with the right equipment, as the top priority.

The need for a boost in the number of Special Constables to support officers was also high on the list, as the third highest public priority. In tackling Neighbourhood Crime, respondents placed the development of a fund for community-run projects that tackle and prevent crime, and increased CCTV, among their leading wants.

WEN it comes to providing vital support for asylum seekers, this group is here to help

WHILE MULTI-CULTURAL areas of the East Midlands became synonymous with racial tension amid the violence against asylum seekers and refugees this summer, a Leicester-based organisation that helps new arrivals integrate in their new communities has reported good outcomes.

A series of health and wellbeing courses led by the Women Empowerment Network’s (WEN) The Helping Others project is helping over 300 people to improve understanding and awareness of British life among asylum seekers and promote community cohesion.

The courses cover a range of themes, including stress, anxiety and anger management, British values, community cohesion, life skills, job readiness, and English for work and self-development.

They are also aimed at deterring engagement in anti-social behaviour and preventing crime. The project, which runs until January 2025, has already supported 320 asylum seekers, with additional help provided to more than 50 individuals with their CVs. The

WEN is committed to empowering all lives and, with the support of our Police and Crime Commissioner, we are doing exactly that. We both understand and care about this

WORKING TOGETHER: Two WEN workers with its CEO and chair Kathleen Harris-Leighton and Leicestershire’s PCC Rupert Matthews courses are delivered in group and pair work, as well as one-to-one, and are run by experienced educators, some of whom are migrants themselves.

WEN’s success has drawn the attention of the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews,

who visited course providers to see first hand how asylum seekers are benefitting from the extra support, and provided a £10,000 grant to further their efforts!

Kathleen Harris-Leighton, CEO/Chair of Women Empowerment Network, said: “WEN is committed to empowering all

lives and, with the support of the PCC, we are doing exactly that. I have received ongoing, prompt support from the PCC. They really do understand and care about people and what we are jointly aiming to accomplish.”

The charity is working actively with the police, and has equipped asylum seekers with welfare packs, as well as signposting them to external sources of help, including food banks.

Matthews said: “One of the primary

aims of my work as PCC is to promote resilience in our communities to reduce the risk of people becoming victims or perpetrators of crime. This project supports this approach, equipping individuals with the knowledge and practical support they need to settle well in their communities and cope more easily with the asylum process. Without this intervention, their vulnerability is heightened, and this could increase their risk of being impacted by crime.

“A significant number of asylum seekers have already benefited from the courses on offer, and we expect the number to grow further over the last couple of months of the scheme.

“We all benefit from living in communities where people are happy and encouraged to thrive, just as we all want to live in safe and prosperous communities.

“This scheme is already having the desired impact on health and wellbeing and behaviour, and I am looking forward to hearing about its continued impact in due course.”

JANUARY 2024 THE VOICE | 25

If you have a story for the East or West Midlands, call /text Veron Graham on 07954 572 988, email veronpgraham@gmail.com, or find him on Facebook, LinkedIn and X

By Veron Graham POSITIVE CHANGE: Left to right, Cabinet members and councillors Vicki Smith, Sukhbir Singh Gill, Suzanne Hartwell, Jackie Taylor and Peter Hughes

THE ORANGE ORDER Council joins the fight to end violence against women and girls by supporting major campaign

A

WEST Midlands local authority has demonstrated its support of a global social media campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse and call for the elimination of gender-based violence by lighting up its premises in orange. The move coincides with the announcement by West Midlands of a reduction in related incidents.

Sandwell Council has made the gesture as part of 16 Days of Activism, which was launched

by UN Women, who are targeting decision-makers to re-energise their commitments, also calling for accountability and action. The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Orange the world: UNiTE to end violence against women and girls (VAWG).’

The Labour-run authority was joined on the campaign trail by a number of organisations and

communities in Sandwell to jointly call for positive change to increase both women’s and men’s safety: also working to highlight the different types of abuse, such as domestic abuse, sexual violence, forced marriage, so-called “honourbased” abuse, female genital mutilation, coercive control, and stalking and harassment.

EDUCATE Sandwell Council’s Cabinet member for Adults Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Jackie Taylor, told The Voice: “I was pleased Sandwell was able to light up the Council House in support of this campaign. We know that a different world is possible with the eradication of VAWG. Also, as those that empower and educate, we will continue this vision to achieve a bright safer Sandwell and world, where

women and girls can be who they are without fear of attack for who they are.”

The authority’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, Cllr Suzanne Hartwell, added: “Domestic abuse can be terrifying for those who experience it, and many victims are often left feeling helpless. We hope that this campaign will encourage people to talk about the issue and its impact on families, and will encourage victims to come forward for help and support.”

With the colour orange selected as “a bright and optimistic colour, representing a future free from VAWG,” the campaign could prompt further improvement, following the release of new figures from West Midlands Police. The actions of the county’s multiagency Violence Reduction

Partnership, along with other organisations from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors, have been acknowledged by the likes of the force’s Police and Crime Commissioner, albeit alongside a note of caution: “We cannot be complacent and never will be, because one victim of violence against women and girls is one too many,” said Simon Foster.

“Violence against women and girls is abhorrent, it will not be tolerated, and bringing an end to it is a priority for me. I am pleased that the work of our Violence Reduction Partnership is helping to bring down violence by educating our communities and providing them with the right support and guidance.

“However, whilst I welcome the news of violence reducing, we cannot be complacent and we never will be, because

one victim of violence against women and girls is one too many. I must emphasise that there is lots more that we all need to do, to keep women and girls safe. I am committed to preventing and tackling violence against women and girls.”

AWARENESS Over 1,400 people have taken part in webinars aimed at raising awareness of VAWG and equipping participants with the tools required to help themselves and support others, in addition to a variety of programmes.

Hundreds of employees from across the West Midlands have taken part in specialist training delivered by Men at Work. It is aimed at helping them have difficult conversations with young men and boys, identify signs of harmful behaviour and addresses misogyny.

The Time to Talk programme has been delivered in almost 130 schools since March 2022 and offers a safe space for boys, ranging from 11-18, to discuss often taboo subjects, such as porn, sexting, consent, gender bias and misogyny.

By March, Feast will have delivered wellbeing sessions focused on faith, belief and values in the context of VAWG to almost 360 students. It explores how these factors impact an individual’s attitude and the way they interact with others.

An Early Years programme is also delivered in partnership with Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid. Bright Beginnings teaches young children aged three to five the importance of knowing how to keep safe, knowing who their trusted adults are and who is allowed to touch them.

26 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

News Feature

MANDATORY ETHNICITY PAY GAP REPORTING: A STEP FORWARD. IS IT ENOUGH?

JUST CAUSE: Closing the ethnicity pay gap is about the fight to achieve the society we strive for, where respect, recognition, and equal opportunities to thrive are universal, says Vic Motune

The introduction of the Labour government’s Equality (Race and Disability) Bill in October should be a cause for cautious optimism. By Vic Motune

A

S THE Ethnicity Pay Gap Summit returns next month for its second year, there is one question that is foremost in the minds of campaigners on this issue: will Labour’s draft legislation to make ethnicity pay gap reporting mandatory achieve meaningful change, or will it simply expose the cracks in our unequal system without sealing them?

The fight for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting has been long and arduous, championed by activists like Dianne Greyson, founder of the #EthnicityPayGap Campaign and the organiser of next month’s summit.

Greyson’s tireless efforts, alongside support from organisations such as the Black Equity Organisation and the Fawcett Society, have kept the issue alive through years of political inertia.

Now, with the Labour government’s Equality (Race and Disability) Bill introduced in October and proposing to make reporting mandatory for companies with more than 250 employees, there is cautious optimism.

Labour’s promise and the summit’s role Labour’s proposal for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting is a significant step forward, marking a clear departure from years of Conservative neglect.

Previous governments displayed a “lack of political will” to address structural wage inequalities. While some leading companies like Aviva and BT voluntarily report their ethnicity

year’s summit should not be understated,” said Greyson. “With new government legislation coming into force next year to make Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting mandatory, organisations need to be prepared.”

FOUNDER: Dianne Greyson is organising the key summit pay data, Labour’s legislation will compel over 250,000 businesses to follow suit.

The Ethnicity Pay Gap Summit aims to prepare organisations for this shift, offering guidance from experts and sharing best practices from companies already taking action.

“The importance of next

The challenges of getting it right However, despite the positive momentum, implementing mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting is fraught with challenges.

Unlike gender pay gap reporting, ethnicity reporting involves multiple intersecting factors, including regional workforce diversity, varying experiences across ethnic groups, and the sensitive nature of collecting ethnicity data.

Another layer of legal and logistical challenges is that employers must navigate General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) restrictions

while ensuring employees feel confident providing personal information.

Companies that have already implemented ethnicity pay gap reporting provide valuable lessons. They’ve also shown that good engagement with employees can lead to successful data collection.

And the public sector’s experience provides a useful blueprint.

Government departments and public bodies already collect and report ethnicity pay data, demonstrating transparency can drive action.

However, even among leading corporates, standardised reporting frameworks are still lacking, making comparisons across industries difficult.

And, as with gender pay gap reporting, the private sector’s engagement with this issue has been uneven.

Labour’s legislation must address these gaps by setting

POWERFUL: People Like Us recreated the famous ‘Labour isn’t working’ advertisement

clear, consistent guidelines for reporting to avoid implementing a measure that is ineffective in driving change.

For thousands of Black workers across the UK, this must not happen.

The widening gap The ethnicity pay gap is not just a statistical anomaly; it’s a stark reflection of systemic inequality.

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), employees from Black, African, Caribbean, or Black British backgrounds were consistently earning less than their White counterparts between 2012-2022. UK-born Black employees earn 5.6 per cent less and non-born UK Black employees took home 12 per cent less than their UK-born White colleagues — the biggest disparity among employees from minority ethnic groups.

The human cost of inaction These figures are not merely numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent real lives affected by racial discrimination, limited opportunities for advancement, and the mental health toll of being undervalued.

Behind the statistics lie stories of frustration, anger and despair.

The Voice’s Black British Voices (BBV) survey, conducted in partnership with the University of Cambridge, underscores how Black employees experience these disparities.

Of the 11,000 respondents who took part in the survey, 88 per cent reported experiencing racial discrimination in the workplace,

including unfair pay, lack of promotions, and differential treatment.

In 2022, PR agency People Like Us produced a report which further highlights the human cost of pay disparity.

Sixty-seven per cent of the ethnically diverse professionals it surveyed suspected White colleagues earned more than them. Over a quarter left their industry due to pay inequality, while 50 per cent reported anxiety or depression from struggles to request pay rises or promotions.

The following year, People Like Us ran a poster campaign re-imagining the iconic 1978 “Labour Isn’t Working” ad to highlight wage inequalities faced

by Black employees in the UK. The updated poster depicted ethnic minorities queuing for a pay rise, spotlighting what it found in its research was a 16 per cent pay gap between Black employees and their White colleagues.

These experiences are a painful reminder that in an economic climate already challenging for many, the mental health impact of this issue cannot be ignored.

Mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting is crucial for addressing workplace racial disparities.

Done right, it could create a fairer future; done poorly, it risks deepening inequalities.

Labour must deliver effectively to prevent Black workers from continuing to bear systemic discrimination’s burden.

Closing the ethnicity pay gap is about the fight to achieve the society we strive for, where respect, recognition, and equal opportunities are universal.

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 27

News Feature

LECTURE EXPLORES MANLEY’S LEGACY AS VISIONARY LEADER MAN OF JAMAICA: Michael Manley, Jamaica’s prime minister from 1972 to 1980 and from 1989 to 1992, is celebrated for championing social justice and equality

London School of Economics hosts special event highlighting work of former Jamaican prime minister and LSE alumnus. By Lyndon Mukasa

T

HE LONDON School of Economics (LSE) recently hosted a lecture examining the life and legacy of Michael Manley, Jamaica’s former prime minister and an LSE alumnus.

Held at the university’s International Inequalities Institute, the event brought together students, alumni, academics, dignitaries, members of the Jamaican diaspora, and members of Manley’s family to reflect on his enduring impact on global politics.

Chaired by Professor Andrés Velasco, Dean of the LSE School of Public Policy, the discussion featured two prominent speakers: Anthony Bogues, a scholar in Africana Studies from Brown University, and Francisco H. G. Ferreira, LSE’s Amartya Sen Professor of Inequality Studies.

Both speakers highlighted Manley’s transformative vision for tackling inequality and his influence on Caribbean and global political thought.

Manley’s path to leadership Michael Manley, who served as Jamaica’s prime minister from 1972 to 1980 and again from 1989 to 1992, is remembered as a champion of social justice and economic equality.

Born in 1924 to Edna Swithenbank, a sculptor, and Norman Manley, a Jamaican National Hero and founder of the People’s National Party (PNP), Michael Manley followed in his father’s footsteps by entering politics.

Educated at LSE, where he

(photo: Getty Images)

studied under socialist thinker Harold Laski, Manley’s exposure to leftist ideologies shaped his commitment to addressing inequality. Upon returning to Jamaica, he worked with trade unions before becoming PNP leader in 1969.

As prime minister, he pursued democratic socialism, advocating for wealth redistribution, regional integration, and greater economic independence for Jamaica and the Caribbean.

A vision rooted in justice and independence Anthony Bogues, in his presentation, underscored the three main pillars of Manley’s political philosophy: a commitment to democratic socialism, the influence of anti-colonial movements, and the need for economic independence in postcolonial societies.

Manley viewed political independence as insufficient without tackling systemic inequalities rooted in colonialism and slavery.

His policies sought to empower Jamaicans by addressing disparities in education, opportunity, and political participation.

Francisco Ferreira echoed these themes, illustrating how the legacy of slavery continues to perpetuate inequalities in education, power, and opportunity across the Americas.

Using data, he highlighted parallels between Manley’s efforts in Jamaica and the challenges faced by Latin American leaders of the era.

Ferreira noted that Manley’s battles with Western powers and

a progressive vision akin to Manley’s. While many policymakers support reparations and acknowledge the need to address colonial legacies, decades of neoliberal economic policies have left the region reliant on external powers and unable to challenge the status quo effectively.

Ferreira pointed to Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley as a contemporary leader who shares some of Manley’s ideals.

Mottley has pursued limited progressive policies and taken a more independent foreign policy stance than many of her regional counterparts. However, both speakers noted the constraints Mottley faces. Unlike Manley, who operated in a world with several left-leaning allies, Mottley is surrounded by neoliberal states closely aligned with US interests.

local elites to address these issues inspired many leaders across the Global South.

Manley’s legacy The lecture also explored whether Manley’s legacy holds relevance for contemporary Caribbean leaders.

During his tenure, Manley connected Jamaica with the Non-Aligned Movement, foster-

ing relationships with socialist nations like Cuba and challenging US dominance in the region. This stance led to significant tensions, including the withdrawal of US aid and allegations of CIA interference in Jamaica’s political stability.

While Manley was re-elected in the late 1980s, the global rise of neoliberalism limited his ability to continue redistributive policies.

He stepped down in 1992 due to

ill health and passed away in 1997.

His departure marked the end of a bold era of economic reforms aimed at addressing systemic inequalities in Jamaica and the Caribbean.

His relevance in today’s Caribbean As the speakers reflected on the modern Caribbean, Bogues lamented the lack of leaders with

Challenges ahead for the Caribbean The lecture concluded with cautious optimism about the future. Ferreira highlighted growing awareness among younger generations in the Caribbean about the structural challenges the region faces, including climate change and the legacy of colonialism. This awareness, he argued, could inspire the emergence of new leaders with bold visions for the region’s future.

As the Caribbean grapples with external pressures and internal challenges, Manley’s legacy as a thinker and leader remains a powerful reminder of what is possible when political courage and a commitment to justice converge.

JAMAICA TABLES BILL TO REPLACE THE BRITISH MONARCHY AS HEAD OF STATE

THE JAMAICA government introduced the Constitution (Amendment) (Republic of Jamaica Bill) Bill in Parliament which is a significant step in the country transitioning to a republic.

Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, said the development “marks the greatest progress made so far” to replace King Charles with a Jamaican president.

“The tabling of the bill

marks the greatest progress made so far in our effort to reform the Constitution of Jamaica to achieve the national goals of having a Jamaican as head of state instead of the hereditary British monarch and also having our supreme law taken out from under the cloak of the imperial Order in Council and placed in proper form,” Malahoo Forte said, according to The Jamaica Gleaner.

The Bill is also proposing to entrench the Electoral Commission of Jamaica in the Constitution, incorporate national symbols and emblems, clarify Jamaican citizenship criteria, and strengthen constitutional amendment procedures, the local newspaper reported.

After the Bill has been introduced in the House, it must pass through several stages, known as “readings”.

Going forward the Bill will

need to be approved by the Houses of Parliament, by a two-thirds majority.

Jamaicans will also have the opportunity to decide in a referendum whether they want to remove the British Monarchy.

The Jamaica Labour Party — led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness — will need the support of the Opposition to move forward with the transition to republic status. In 2023, the govern-

ment accused the People’s National Party (PNP) of failing to name their two members of Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) and this had stalled the Caribbean country’s plans to move towards the next steps of implementing constitutional reform.

In June 2022, Malahoo Forte said Jamaica will transition to a republic by 2025 — in time for the next general election.

THE TIME IS NOW: Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

28 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Lyndon Mukasa Eye on the Diaspora

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

AMERICA, THE RISE OF FASCISM AND THE THREAT TO THE CARIBBEAN

Dominica’s ties to Cuba as well as launch an attack on Grenada, which was at the time under a socialist Government.

This attempt was fortunately thwarted by the FBI before the neo-Nazis ship set sail, but another attempt was made in 1986 when another group of American neo-Nazis was intercepted in an attempted overthrow of the Government of Suriname.

The region has cause for concern following Donald Trump’s return to the White House

I

N LIGHT of the election of the US President Donald Trump, concerns and debates over the rise of fascism in the United States have re-emerged.

It is evident that the United States as well as much of the Western world are at a crossroads as they struggle to deal with the challenges of late-stage capitalism, as well as the growing shift in the balance of global influence from the west to the east.

The reality is that ordinary people are reacting to these challenges irrationally as seen in the much wider support Trump has gained in this second election victory.

The Caribbean is particularly vulnerable because of its proximity to the United States and ever-growing dependence economically and in certain areas of security. Additionally, the region has a rich but relatively unknown history of resistance against White supremacy and fascism for centuries.

While President Trump doesn’t have any specific policies relating to the Caribbean (it’s too early at this point), the region’s close proximity to the most powerful country that is being run by a right-leaning government is worth examining.

Fascism is considered by many experts to be defined as a mass political movement that is built around extreme nationalism, militarism and the supremacy of the nation over the individual.

Fascist regimes often advocate for the overthrow of existing systems of government and the persecution of

WORRYING TIMES: The Caribbean’s proximity to and dependence on the US has raised concerns in the region about the rise of the far-right in the country following the election of Donald Trump as President (photo: Getty Images)

Silver Shirts as well as the Ku Klux Klan and have the power to influence foreign policy.

This has been most evident in policy going back to the Immigration Act of 1924 that restricted migration to the US on grounds of eugenicist ideas on race, morality and intelligence.

In the 1920s, this legislation mainly targeted Eastern Europeans and Jews.

However, today some of the rhetoric has been revived in relation to the Haitian community.

Even more disturbing is the possibility for independent fascist groups to emerge American fascism Fascist groups and elements have existed out of the political climate and directly in the United States since the 19th century threaten Caribbean states.

This happened in 1981 when American in the form of the eugenics movement, the political opponents while also being conservative in nature. Within the American context, Trump fits some of the definitions such as championing traditional values and aligning with corporate interests.

However, at the moment his type of fascism is still limited. While the government may not be fully fascist in the traditional sense, that does not mean that the country itself hasn’t expressed fascist sentiments that reverberate across the Americas.

and Canadian neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members attempted to overthrow the Government of Dominica and establish a White-run state in what was called Operation Red Dog. The plan was aided by disgraced former Dominican Prime Minister Patrick R. John who sought a way back to power even if it meant selling out to White supremacists.

The goal was to violently suppress the Dominican population and establish a White majority island in the Caribbean, turning it into a narco-state and a playground for the rich. Additionally, the planned coup happened at the time when there were American concerns about leftwing movements across the region.

The neo-Nazis had initial plans to break

The normalisation of American fascism Often the media doesn’t highlight the fascist elements that exist in the United States regardless of who is in power.

If militarism and corporate interests are key elements of fascism, then the United States is at the very least not too far from being fascist in practice from the perspective of many countries in the Global South.

Throughout the 20th century, the US protected corporate interests of major companies in the Caribbean such as the United Fruit Company often at the expense of workers.

During Haiti’s US occupation (19151934), American marines introduced forced labour, resulting in thousands of deaths when resistance to this move was suppressed. They also committed numerous racist atrocities in the process.

American fascism is often overlooked as it supports the liberal capitalist framework benefiting the US. But fascist elements in the country have traditionally justified suppressing non-White people in the Caribbean and Global South.

As global power shifts in the 21st century, liberalism’s façade will erode, exposing the violent underbelly that has always been present, and the Caribbean must prepare to resist American fascism’s regional threat.

WHY KENYA’S INTERVENTION IN HAITI IS PROVING SO UNPOPULAR IN THE November 2023 and May 2024 editions of The Voice, I covered the tense security situation in Haiti and the shocking decision of Kenya to send a security mission to help put an end to the violence in the Caribbean nation.

The motivation for Kenya’s intervention was controversial among Haitians who are tired of yet more ineffective foreign interventions.

For Kenyans who are already suspicious of the unpopular President William Ruto, they question why the government is sending a Kenyan security force over 7,546 miles away to do America’s job of invading another

Caribbean country. In 2024, over 4,500 people have been killed so far while 2,060 people have been injured. Up to 700,000 people have been displaced by the ongoing violence in 2024.

Kenyan forces arrive in Haiti In June 2024, despite repeated delays and obstructions from Kenyan lawmakers, a contingent of over 400 Kenyan police officers arrived in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.

They formed part of an initial grouping of a UN backed multinational security support mission (MSS) that was later joined by forces from Benin, the

Bahamas, Barbados, Chad, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, and Bangladesh. Spain, Senegal and Chile have pledged to send forces in to help bolster the numbers of security personnel and reach 2,500.

Since arriving, the Kenyan officers have faced constant daily attacks from Haitian armed groups.

Despite this, the Commander of the UN-backed mission Godfrey Otunge was confident that they would be able to gain control of Port-au-Prince, stating that “the days are numbered for the gangs”.

Problems and challenges However, to date, the Kenyan forces have thus far been ineffective in

SUSPICIOUS: Kenyans are already wary of President William Ruto making any arrests of any armed groups or taking back territory.

To make matters worse, Kenyan media outlets had reported that the officers had gone unpaid for over three months since the start of the

mission and many officers were on the brink of resignation.

Police inspector general Douglas Kanja denied these rumours, arguing that officers operating in Haiti had been paid up to the end of October.

Reports from the Kenyan Treasury reveal that so far the Kenyan Government has spent over $15 million on the mission with the expectation of being reimbursed by the UN. As Kenya continues to face challenges in Haiti, we will continue to follow as more developments unfold. l Lyndon Mukasa is a writer and researcher. He studied International Development at the London School of Economics

JUNE 2024

THE VOICE | 29

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 29

News

WOMEN AND GIRLS ‘BEAR BRUNT OF SUDAN CONFLICT’

UN Women reports a sharp rise in gender-based violence in the African country. By Vic Motune

W

OMEN AND girls in Sudan are enduring disproportionate suffering amidst the ongoing conflict between rival military factions, according to an alert issued by UN Women.

The organisation highlighted a sharp rise in gender-based violence, food insecurity, and lack of access to essential services since fighting erupted in April 2023.

The alert provided a stark reminder of the compounded challenges faced by Sudanese women and girls as the humanitarian crisis deepens.

UN Women reported that 5.8 million people have been displaced, with women and girls facing heightened risks of sexual violence, exploitation and abuse.

The crisis has exacerbated the demand for gender-based violence services, which have surged by 100 per cent since the conflict began. Cases of abuse, particularly in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan, often go unreported due to stigma and inadequate support mechanisms.

“Women and girls in Sudan are facing unimaginable challenges, yet their strength and resilience continues to inspire us,” said Hodan Addou, acting Regional Director for UN Women’s East and Southern Africa office. “We cannot let Sudan become a forgotten crisis.”

Food and healthcare shortages The ongoing conflict has driven acute food insecurity to unprecedented levels.

Female-headed households are being hit harder than their male counterparts.

Compounding the crisis, 1.63 million women of reproductive age lack adequate healthcare, even as an estimated 54,000 childbirths are expected over the next three months.

The UN Women alert also highlighted the fact that women and girls continue to be disproportionately impacted by the lack of safe, easily accessible water, sanitation and hygiene.

Education in crisis Education for girls in Sudan has become a major casualty of the conflict. Over 2.5 million schoolaged girls are unable to return to classrooms, leaving them vulnerable to harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.

UN Women is urging the international community to take immediate action to protect women and girls in Sudan, calling for funding to support women-led organisations on the ground.

The agency reiterated its demand for a halt to the fighting.

However, international efforts to broker a ceasefire between the Rapid Support Forces militia and Sudanese government troops have so far failed to end the violence.

(photo: @AddouHodan/x)

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SPEAKING OUT: Protesters at a women-only march in London highlight violence against women in Sudan (photo: Getty Images)

CALL TO ACTION: Hodan Addou, acting Regional Director for UN Women’s East and Southern Africa office

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30 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Muyiwa Olarewaju OBE

Nothing But Truth and Light

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

STRONGER TOGETHER! At times of financial crisis, it is so important to keep the faith and remember there is always going to be help out there

A

S JANUARY 2025 dawns, households across the UK, particularly within African and Caribbean communities, grapple with the mounting pressures of the costof-living crisis.

The winter months often amplify these struggles, as soaring energy bills and escalating food prices leave too many families unable to heat their homes or put sufficient food on the table.

This reality underscores the need for collective resilience and practical solutions to navigate these challenges. The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 27:23-24, “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever.”

UNCERTAIN This passage encourages thoughtful stewardship of resources, a principle that is especially crucial in these uncertain times. With inflation continuing to stretch household budgets, understanding the value of careful financial planning and resource management has never been more important.

Recent studies have shown how the cost-of-living crisis disproportionately affects marginalised communities, highlighting deep-rooted racial inequalities.

Reports reveal that Black households in the UK face higher energy costs and are more likely to live in poorly insulated homes, exacerbating the burden of winter heating bills.

Additionally, African and Caribbean families often face systemic barriers to employment opportunities and fair wages, to compound financial pressures.

These inequities, as highlighted in research from the University of Leeds, call for both community-level action and broader systemic change.

Moreover, findings shared by the American Association for the Advancement of Science demonstrate how economic disparities worsen mental health outcomes, as financial stress takes a significant toll on

individuals and families. The Labour Party has historically emphasised economic inequality in its January planning cycles.

However, while the party’s policy efforts are often announced at this time, translating promises into tangible change for vulnerable populations remains a challenge.

In times of financial strain, scripture provides timeless wisdom for navigating uncertainty. January, a month often associated with new beginnings, offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on and recalibrate financial priorities.

Romans 13:8 advises: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.”

This verse encourages a responsible approach to borrowing and reminds us to prioritise relationships over material gain.

As many households face mounting debt due to rising costs, it’s important to explore strategies for managing obligations, such as consolidating loans or seeking financial advice to regain control.

Proverbs 12:11 states: “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.”

This verse underscores the value of hard work and productivity.

For those navigating financial hardship, this might mean exploring side-income opportunities, skill development or entrepreneurial ventures to create additional streams of income.

Ecclesiastes 11:2 teaches: “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what

We can all rise above the challenges and build a brighter tomorrow for ourselves and for future generations

RESPONSIBLE: As the New Year begins, African and Caribbean UK households face cost-of-living pressures, with rising food costs highlighting the need for thoughtful resource stewardship (photo: Getty Images)

disaster may come upon the land.”

Diversification is a cornerstone of sound financial planning, urging us to spread resources across various areas to build resilience against unforeseen challenges. Whether it’s saving, investing in education, or building emergency funds, wise financial decisions now can provide security in the future.

Galatians 6:2 reminds us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ.”

Supporting one another is essential in times of crisis.

Community groups, churches and local charities can play a vital role in helping, whether through food banks, utility support programmes, or financial counselling services.

Proverbs 1 encourages us to seek wisdom and instruction, which is invaluable for building financial literacy.

Understanding budgeting, credit and savings strategies empowers individuals to make informed decisions and improve their financial stability.

January has historically been a critical period for economic planning in the UK, and under Labour’s leadership, the month is very often characterised by a

focus on addressing economic inequality and setting the tone for the fiscal year.

The party has emphasised increasing public spending on social services, with promises to support vulnerable populations through targeted policies.

However, the disparity between rhetoric and actionable outcomes remains a concern.

For African and Caribbean communities, advocating for more inclusive policies is crucial.

RACISM This includes pushing for energy subsidies for low-income households, greater access to affordable housing, and employment initiatives that address systemic racism.

Bridging these gaps requires sustained dialogue with policymakers and grassroots advocacy to ensure that the needs of our communities are at the top of the list.

In the face of these challenges, it is important to remember that there’s still hope. While the financial realities of the cost-ofliving crisis are daunting, faith reminds us that God is present in every situation. As highlighted in a reflection from Stewardship UK, the cost of living may be

in crisis, but God never is.

He remains a steady refuge, offering guidance, strength and provision.

As we navigate this season, we can draw on the promise in Timothy 6:7: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

This perspective shifts our focus from material possessions to the enduring values of love, community and faith. Even in times of financial strain, our ability to connect with others, support one another, and trust in God’s provision remains steadfast.

By outlining a budget, prioritising essentials like food, housing and utilities, we can take control of our finances step-by-step. Seeking support through local organisations, community groups or churches offering financial assistance, food distribution or energy grants can provide a lifeline during this challenging time.

Taking steps to learn a new skill or pursue training opportunities can enhance employability and open doors to new income streams. Advocacy remains vital and, as individuals and communities, we can push for equitable policies that address

the unique challenges we face, from poorly insulated homes to systemic wage disparities.

Leaning on the strength of our communities by sharing resources, knowledge, and encouragement strengthens our collective resilience.

January may be a month filled with financial uncertainty, but is also a time to embrace the possibilities of renewal and growth. Together, through faith, action, and mutual support, we can overcome the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis and move toward a more hopeful and equitable future.

As we face the year ahead, let us remember that God’s provision is abundant, and His promises remain true.

By practicing wise stewardship, supporting one another, and advocating for justice, we can rise above these challenges and build a brighter tomorrow for ourselves and future generations. l Muyiwa Olarewaju OBE is station director at Premier Gospel radio, a TV & radio broadcaster, and principal of gospel group Muyiwa & Riversongz. You can listen to Muyiwa on http://www.premiergospel.plus

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 31

YOUNG VOICES CALL ON STARMER TO TAKE RACISM SERIOUSLY

News ACTION: The coalition group and supporters gather in London

Coalition of organisations sends letter to Prime Minister demanding effective support for victims

A

COALITION of organisations representing young voices are calling for urgent change in how we support young people impacted by racism.

A letter to Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer, urging the Government to “take racism seriously”, was co-ordinated by The Diana Award and has been signed by Everyday Racism, the Centre for Mental Health, social action programme Not So Micro, The Black Curriculum, the African Caribbean Education Network and UK Youth.

The coalition have requested a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss this further as research and long-standing evidence suggests that “racism is holding young people back and is the cause of harmful outcomes caused by bias and a lack of racially inclusive practice”.

One of the key stakeholders in the coalition, Andy Bell, Chief Executive at the Centre for Mental Health, said: “Racism in schools profoundly affects the mental health of both pupils and staff, undermining educational outcomes. We urge the Government and schools

to adopt a comprehensive approach to addressing racism and ensuring effective support for those impacted.”

With a similar view, coalition stakeholder Naomi Evans, of Everyday Racism, said: “I have been a teacher for 20 years and have never received or been offered anti-racism training, which is why I developed my own. I have seen first-hand how racism affects our young people in schools and how teachers are not equipped to address it. Racism should be explicitly treated as a safeguarding issue, and teachers should be equipped to deal with it.”

The letter asks for the government’s intervention on this issue, specifically stating: “We welcome your government’s focus on breaking down the barriers to opportunity and would like to offer our support to help you achieve this mission.

“Together we have more than a century of experience working with young people.

We have seen far too many young people’s lives held back by their experiences of racism, which not only affects their health and wellbeing, but also limits their opportunities for a happy, fulfilling and successful life.”

Four key changes THE coalition is calling on the Government for urgent action with four key changes: 1. For the review of the national curriculum to take an explicit anti-racism focus and to include Black history as a compulsory subject.

2. For the upcoming Race Equality Act to require schools to have an action plan for addressing race inequality alongside their enhanced collection and reporting of ethnicity and race data.

3. For racism to be recognised by the Department of Education as an explicit safeguarding issue and included in mandatory school staff training.

4. For anti-racism guidance to be published for schools, including how to respond to peer-to-peer racism, mental health effects of racism and racial trauma. l To show your support for the campaign and sign the Open Letter you can visit: diana-award.org.uk/ takeracismseriously

Tell your GP instead.

Ask for a simple at-home test.

A pain or lump in your tummy could be nothing to worry about, but it’s worth making sure.

Bowel cancer is treatable when found early.

Registered charity number 1071038 (England and Wales) and SC040914 (Scotland)

32 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Business

LOAN LIFELINE TURNS A DREAM INTO REALITY

Esmie Stewart’s food truck, now a bustling hub of Caribbean cuisine, represents more than a business success. It’s a beacon of what’s possible when underserved entrepreneurs are given the tools to succeed. By Vic Motune

W

HEN ESMIE Stewart left her corporate job at Vodafone after 12 years, she set her sights on a dream: bringing authentic Caribbean food to the UK. But the journey was far from smooth. “I knew what Caribbean food should be, and most of the food I tasted did not taste like it,” she said. “It wasn’t fresh. You’d go into a restaurant and hear the microwave pinging. I wanted to change that.”

With her passion ignited, Esmie pursued a degree at Birmingham College of Food, balancing her studies with work at a community centre.

She eventually transformed its hospitality arm into a popular culinary hotspot, a feat she credits to her background as a process development manager at Vodafone.

“It’s all about streamlining systems to ensure high quality,” she said.

In 2016, Stewart launched her restaurant, Leave it to Esmie, in Birmingham. It flourished until 2018, when she became seriously ill. Just as she began to recover, the pandemic struck, bringing her dream to a standstill.

“The restaurant was all about me, my dreams, everything I wanted people to have. Without me being there, it was quite dif-

GAME CHANGER: After Esmie’s food truck was launched in June 2023, she doubled her sales

ficult watching my dream fade away,” she admitted.

Faced with adversity, Stewart and her team pivoted, envisioning a new food truck to educate communities about Caribbean cuisine and provide street food at festivals.

However, the cost of acquiring a suitable truck skyrocketed during the pandemic.

Enter Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT), a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI).

Stewart secured a £48,000 loan with a 40 per cent grant (£19,200) on top, allowing her to purchase a fully equipped truck.

“They were amazing,” she recalled. “It was like getting free business consultancy. They asked lots of questions to make sure the figures made sense. They didn’t push me, and they said, ‘Take your time. Don’t sign unless you understand.’”

The truck debuted in June 2023, doubling her street food sales and enabling her to keep her team employed despite closing the restaurant in July.

“Thanks to the loan and grant, we’ve kept everyone in their jobs and even recruited two new people. The truck has been a game changer,” she said.

Stewart’s passion for street food

PASSION: Esmie Stewart, centre, with a colleague, left, and her daughter, Heaven-Leigh Stewart, right has been reignited, and she’s now planning family cooking stations and recipe boxes.

The entrepreneur’s story is just one example of how CDFIs empower small businesses.

Now, two major new investments aimed at scaling up CDFI lending are poised to help thousands of other Black entrepreneurs across the UK. The British Business Bank’s Community ENABLE Funding initiative will support up to £150 million of CDFI lending over the next two years while a £4 million investment from JPMorganChase’s will enhance the capacitybuilding efforts of CDFIs helping to

operate more efficiently in serving the needs of new entrepreneurs, especially those turned away by traditional lenders.

“Thanks to the loan and grant, we’ve kept everyone in their jobs and even recruited two new people”

A double boost for small business finance News of the investment has been hailed as a watershed moment.

“Access to finance is one of the key barriers to growth for small businesses,” said Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State at the Departissued by CDFIs went to Black and ment for Business and Trade.

“This announcement is a big step minority ethnic-led enterprises, towards addressing some of those far outstripping the national average for such lending. By contrast, challenges.” only six per cent of UK SMEs are Conor Hillery, Deputy CEO of EMEA at JPMorganChase, empha- minority-led, highlighting the sised the importance of bolstering disproportionate challenges these CDFIs. “Non-profit lenders like CD- entrepreneurs face.

For Stewart, CWRT’s support FIs can play an important role in providing much-needed financing. wasn’t just about accessing funds.

However, they often struggle with It was about receiving tailored guidance to ensure her business limited capital themselves and could thrive. “They don’t just give require investments to enhance their systems,” he said adding that you the money and leave you to it.

They’re with you every step of the the investment would “bolster way,” she said. our ongoing efforts to support a CDFIs’ track record underscores vibrant and growing SME sector”. their effectiveness. In 2023, 99 per cent of businesses that borrowed A vital lifeline for from CDFIs had been declined by minority-led businesses CDFIs’ hands-on approach to lend- another lender, yet 89 per cent of loans were repaid in full. Womening has made them a critical resource for minority-led businesses, led businesses accounted for which often face systemic barriers 41 per cent of loans, and 98 per to traditional financing. cent of borrowers were based Last year, 24 per cent of loans outside London, ensuring funds

reached underserved communities nationwide.

The money went to firms across a range of sectors such as retail, manufacturing, professional services, hospitality, construction, energy and health and social care.

The new investments aim to increase annual CDFI lending from £102 million to over £500 million by 2029, unlocking opportunities for thousands of SMEs in the UK’s most disadvantaged areas.

A new chapter for small business growth For Stewart, the support she received from CWRT has allowed her to keep her dream alive and her team employed.

Her story is a testament to the transformative power of targeted financial support for minority-led businesses. “Street food is my passion. I absolutely love it,” she said.

“Going to CWRT was the right move.”

As the British Business Bank and JPMorganChase’s initiatives take root, thousands more entrepreneurs like Esmie will have the opportunity to overcome barriers, build thriving businesses, and contribute to their communities.

“CDFIs have that crucial local know-how and the ability to reach businesses that have fallen through the net,” Thomas said. “This programme will support many firms to thrive and grow.”

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 33

Asari St Hill

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

Business and Wealth

PLAN FOR SUCCESS IN 2025

Key strategies will help you grow your business this year

THE COMING year may be challenging for businesses due to a £20 billion tax increase, largely from employer national insurance and a higher minimum wage.

Businesses must budget wisely, boost productivity, cut costs, or raise prices.

Some may fail, but most UK Blackowned businesses have few or no staff, so plan for growth confidently and prepare for added costs starting in April.

Start with your personal goals Start 2025 by revisiting your goals with a Dreamchart, focusing on why you started your business. Set income or profit targets, not just revenue, and include personal goals like holidays, family time, health, and fitness.

How are you planning for business growth in 2025?

Let your personal goals inform your business goals. Set revenue targets based on desired income or profit, avoiding mistakes like confusing revenue with profit – famously misunderstood by Richard Branson until his 50s.

If you’ve traded for over a year, use past data to project 2024 growth and outline 2025 goals. Next, define your ideal target market with clarity. Avoid saying “everyone”, instead, create a detailed customer profile, considering factors like gender, age, ethnicity, location, and habits. Ask where these customers gather and what else they Here are key low-cost tactics: buy. For example, middle-aged Black Landing pages: rather than focus women buying candles may frequent on your website – make a useful offer of specific salons, spas, or gyms. information to help your target market solve a problem or a webinar to do the Develop marketing strategies same and they will leave their contact To market effectively, start by details to get it. An additional tip: ask for understanding your target audience a mobile number as well, so you can do and developing tailored strategies. follow-up calls.

Many businesses fail due to inadequate Social media: choose the platform marketing, as Grant Cardone advises: you will find your target market in “Go big or go home.”

GOALS: 2025 may be challenging for businesses but, says Asari St Hill, with the right planning, business owners can be successful

numbers. Then share useful information, pictures and videos of what you sell.

Occasionally, leave an offer or landing page link rather than just your website.

Introducers: These are other business owners who sell to your target market but with whom you are not competing directly. This is like a plumber and an electrician; or mortgage adviser and will writer. You are both in a perfect position to refer each other

but you are not competing for the same services. If you build relationships with them, you have a great opportunity for regular introductions to your target market.

Networking: Many people say, your network is your net worth! This is a great place to find ‘introducers’. A huge mistake of networking is going to look for customers, rather than people who can introduce you to your ideal customers.

In summary, look at 2025 with optimism. Start by working on listing your personal goals, including the income you want. Then work on your business goals and your ideal customer before concentrating on your marketing strategies. These tactics will help grow your business and connect you with the right audience.

l Asari St.Hill is an ActionCOACH Business

Coach and Founder of the Black Business Club. For more details you can reach him via https://blackbusinessclub.org/ or Founder@BlackBusinessClub.org

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34 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Darell J. Philip

Join the debate online: voice-online. co.uk/opinion

‘THERE IS NO GREATER REWARD THAN GIVING BACK TO OTHERS’

From trauma to triumph: Lamar Russell, a survivor of childhood domestic abuse, shares his journey from trauma to triumph

L

AMAR RUSSELL is a man of God, a devoted husband, and a father. He is a bestselling children’s author, community activist, entrepreneur, educator, youth leader, mentor and mental health first aider.

Recently, he was a finalist in the Community Hero Excellence Awards 2023, and has also been nominated three times for Role Model of the Year.

Born and raised in Harlesden, north-west London, Lamar, 26, had a tough upbringing raised in a single-parent household with his mum, older brother and sister, where they all suffered domestic abuse.

“Growing up, I was in a house full of domestic abuse,” Lamar begins. “I used to see mum getting beaten and thrown downstairs.

He (my stepfather) also used to beat me and my siblings.

“What helped me was my mother taking me to football twice a week because she understood how much I enjoyed it because it was an escape from the trauma I was experiencing as a result of the domestic abuse.”

VIOLENCE According to UK statistics collated by the National Centre for Domestic Violence: l One in five adults experience domestic abuse during their lifetime. This equates to one in four women and one in six-toseven men. l One in five children have lived with an adult perpetrating domestic abuse (NSPCC: Child abuse and neglect in the UK today, 2019). l 62 per cent of children living with domestic abuse are directly harmed by the perpetrator of the abuse, in addition to the harm caused by witnessing the abuse of others (Caada, 2014), In Plain Sight: Effective help for children exposed to domestic abuse).

The domestic abuse which took

ROLE MODEL: Community Hero Award finalist Lamar Russell is inspiring young children by publishing the three books he has written

place in Lamar’s childhood had a devastating effect on not only his mother but also on his siblings and himself.

“I saw my older brother go to jail and I went through a period where I was on the road and getting up to criminal activity, but I always knew this was not the life I wanted. Although I grew up in that negative environment, I always had in my mind I was going to be someone in life.

I knew there was more to the life I was experiencing and that I could somehow make it out.”

Lamar found himself at a crossroads – he had two options

– to continue down the reckless path he was heading on or to seek a more positive change in his life.

He chose the latter.

“Some years after my mother and stepfather separated, and things began to settle down, I witnessed my mother being baptised. It was at the age of 18 that I then gave my life to Christ, with my older sister soon after doing the same. My life changed for the better and I am here today with a beautiful wife and son and giving back to the youth.”

Despite his tough upbringing and start in life, Lamar was able to defy the odds heavily stacked

against him, striving for greatness which saw him rise from a life of trauma to triumph.

Now known for being a true inspiration and a positive advocate for youth, Lamar draws on his own personal experiences and struggles while growing up, and presents his life as an “open book,” sharing dynamic and inspiring messages that resonate with people across all ages and backgrounds. In 2023, he became Project Manager of Connect Stars, a charitable organisation which provides young people with access to a safe space where they can be creative, active and

responsive in their communities.

Lamar then fulfilled a lifetime dream in founding his own youth organisation – Inspire to Inspire Ltd, and in his work has made a positive difference in the lives of many young people who, like him, have experienced hardship and abuse. Along the way he has had the fortune in meeting the likes of Match of the Day presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker, as well as Prince William amongst others.

“I always said from a young age, that once I make it, I wanted to create a youth organisation which provides a

safe space where young people can express themselves, learn new skills and shine, and with Inspire to Inspire this has definitely paid off.”

Lamar is also a best-selling author of three self-published books via Amazon – Young King (2023), Young Queen (2024) and More Than Enough (2024) which were written to affirm children of their greatness.

“I have always loved writing, but my passion for writing started when I worked in primary schools and saw how every child is different and learns differently.

Some are visual learners while others are practical. So I decided to write affirmation-based story books for young readers as they are sponges that soak up everything, so the good you pour into them now will go a long way.”

On three separate occasions Lamar has also been nominated for Role Model of the Year Awards as well as a Community Hero Excellence Award, though he takes such accolades in his stride and in a spirit of humility.

CHAMPIONS “I never do this work for myself; it is only for the champions I work with. My passion is to make an impact in the lives of young people, helping them to achieve their goals while also turning the negatives into positives. “l’ve been enabled to do a lot in my life: youth mentoring, prison ministry to young offenders, assisting young people into employment, as well as teaching students and running youth clubs.

“This work is rewarding, and I do it not for myself but to lift others up. The greatest purpose in life is found through service, and while I truly appreciate the recognition my work has been given, there is no greater reward than giving back to others.”

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic abuse, you can access help from the following services: l The Samaritans – Call any day, any time for free on: 116 123 l Premier Lifeline – 0300 111 0101 – Open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday (Excluding Public Holidays) l Black Minds Matter UK – https:// www.blackmindsmatteruk.com/ l Darell J. Philip is a teaching assistant, academic mentor and award-winning journalist

Lifestyle ONES TO WATCH IN 2025

36 Sama is the only Black female luxury hotelier in the UK. Find out how she did it

39

Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism for St Kitts, talks sustainability

Photo: Justina Stasiunaite

40

44

Trevor Blackman has big plans for 2025. Always helping people is priority

36 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Lifestyle

Business

SAMA HAS PROVED A CLASS ACT

T

HERE WILL be a time when asking if a business is ‘B Corp certified’ will become the norm. Let the record show, however, that one business owner was well ahead of her time.

The only UK Black female luxury hotelier, Sama Trinder, is used to being early, doing things first; it’s pretty much an inherited family trait, especially in business.

But where the notion of running a sustainable company is concerned, her efforts aren’t just vogue or for now, they are an inherent part of who she is.

Trinder is the co-founder of Bingham Riverhouse, based in Richmond, London.

Owned and operated by the family for 40 years, she transformed what was her parents’ B&B into Richmond’s first boutique hotel in 2006, with the restaurant earning a Michelin star in 2010.

It’s been quite the journey and it was inspired by mum, Ruth, who was an archetypal entrepreneur, way before the pursuit of such endeavours was lauded.

Ruth arrived in the UK penniless, having escaped an abusive marriage in Kenya. She trained as a midwife and later became the first Black female cashier at Coutts on The Strand.

Although she faced barriers in her career, Ruth forged ahead, founding her own nursing home business in 1977 with just £11,000, growing it into a multi-millionpound empire.

Ruth also operated five luxury nursing homes across south London, with a commitment to treating residents with the highest standard of care, service and dignity.

Trinder recalls her mother’s unwavering work ethic. “I remember her relentless dedication, waking up at 5am to visit the night teams at all her homes, ensuring consistent standards of excellence.”

Trinder now applies the same principles of care, respect and attention to detail to Bingham Riverhouse.

A beautiful Georgian building, the premises overlooks the River Thames offering an intimate

PROUD: Sama Trinder is the UK’s only Black female luxury hotelier

It’s a family affair as Trinder takes Bingham Riverhouse boutique hotel to next level — and B Corp certification. By Joel Campbell escape for guests seeking a mix of luxury, sustainability and wellness.

Speaking on how her mother inspired her journey into ownership, Trinder said: “My mother was going to sell it and she sat us down – me, my brother and sister – and said unless someone comes and takes over, I am going to sell it. At that time, it was just a B&B, we had no restaurant, no event space.”

She added: “My mum is from Kenya, she came over in 1963 and I guess I didn’t realise it then, but I was really inspired by mum running a business.

“They (my parents) had always taken buildings and things that were really run-down and made them into something beautiful and that’s what I saw as the potential here. It was very rundown, we’ve refurbished it three or four times since then.”

Giving insight into why she chose the route of a boutique hotel, Trinder said: “It was a new thing in 2002 when people started talking about boutique hotels. I’d walked into a Waterstones book shop and the first copy of Mr and Mrs Smith was there, which was like this Boutique Hotel guide book.

“Before that, luxury hotels were

all about big, five-star central London, or big country houses.

There wasn’t this niche market for little quirky town houses, and late nineties, early 2000s, boutique hotels came up as a thing.

“So, I picked up this book, Mr and Mrs Smith, and I thought, ‘ahh, that’s what it can be’. The building is Georgian, built in 1740 and by the river.”

Most twenty-something-yearolds would have shied away from the responsibility, it’s a lot to carry, build. Testament to her vision and fortitude, last year Trinder was named as a finalist in the Entrepreneur Senior Leader category at the prestigious Black British Business Awards 2024.

The nomination not only highlights her accomplishments but also elevates the visibility of Black leaders in traditionally white-dominated industries.

Speaking about her nomination at the time, Sama said: “Being nominated as a finalist for the Black British Business Awards has been the most humbling, inspiring and exciting experience.

“Meeting other finalists has been a privilege — so many gifted, ambitious and successful Black people at the top of their game across global industries.”

Sitting with Lifestyle, she added:

pours into, rather than extracts.

In 2016, she founded bhuti, an eco-wellbeing centre offering yoga, meditation and holistic wellness services.

In 2022, Trinder integrated bhuti into the hotel, enhancing its position as a wellness SO CLOSE: and creative hub for Sama and locals and visitors alike. mum Ruth It’s the attention to ensuring those who come to her business in any capacity have an experience because we were knocked back they can be proud of speaking a couple of times because you about. It’s a reflection of the owners’ have to go through rigorous priorities – as is the decision to checks and verifications on all of your systems and processes obtain B Corp certification.

“So, again that’s another crazy with regards to purchasing, HR, finance, idea that I wanted to do as a small employment, governance and obviously business,” Trinder enthused.

“I know that we’re the only environmental emissions.

“We were with Green Tourism independent hotel with B Corp from 2008 and we’re with status in the UK. “It’s taken us three years, Considerate Hoteliers as well, they are both other accreditations for sustainable and environmentally focused business. B Corp says they’re a force for good, and although I have run a business all of my life, I actually wanted to be a politician, I wanted to make a difference, and then I wanted to be a journalist. For me, business should be a vehicle for good and making a positive impact on people and the planet.

“We chose B Corp because it’s the widest globally recognised accreditation. It’s the hardest to STAR QUALITY: Bingham Riverhouse in Richmond get, which I didn’t realise, but has ‘luxury’ written all over it, with the boutique hotel’s that’s a good thing.” l Watch the full interview with restaurant also earning a Michelin star in 2010 Sama Trinder on our website

“It’s only recently I have realised that we are the only Black femaleowned hotel in the UK, and that there are very few women in leadership roles in hospitality.”

She admits to not being the most aggressive business owner when it comes to pursuing money. That said, through her leadership, Trinder has grown Bingham Riverhouse’s turnover from £400,000 to £4million, successfully navigating the business through the challenges of the pandemic.

She has increased profitability by 10 per cent in the past year, with another 10 per cent growth forecast for next year.

As well as a hotel, Bingham Riverhouse is home for Trinder’s community of entrepreneurs and purpose-driven people who are all members of the facility.

It’s business, yes, but for her it’s beyond the money. It’s about impacting people and creating a perpetual stream of energy that

JANUARY 2025

‘UNIQUE AND UNFORGETTABLE’ RO LLI N G S TO N E

THEMUSICAL MUSICAL THE BOOK

DENNIS KELLY

MUSIC & LYRICS

TIM MINCHIN

IN LONDON’S WEST END AND TOURING THE UK & IRELAND FROM 2025 CAMBRIDGE THEATRE, LONDON

THE VOICE | 37

38 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Lifestyle

Truly heaven on Earth Joel Campbell explains why a visit to the Caribbean island of St Kitts is definitely one to cherish

I

’M HOPING this inspires those who haven’t been before to find out a lot more about St Kitts, maybe even book a trip, because my last visit there was off the chain.

I don’t want my Nevis family to think I’ve forgotten them, I’ll get to that part of the trip later this year, for now, let me tell you about a place called Spice Mill Restaurant.

As I walked up the ramp, not quite sure where the proprietor was leading my group to, he stopped, paused and said what we were about to witness, was unrivalled on the island. He wasn’t wrong.

As we turned the corner, we were struck with a view the likes of which made me draw breath.

It was framed perfectly. “It was framed like that on purpose,” he tells me.

The view is wonderful. And so were the bespoke rum cocktails (rumtinis to be precise), made with his own natural infusion ingredients – notably Roselle Hibiscus calyx, grown locally and handpicked – which we’d been introduced to 20 minutes prior downstairs in the distillery.

I wasn’t drinking, so it was all about the mocktails for me, however, I am told the taste was well and truly good to go.

I won’t go on about the food

too much, I will say though, I had soup. Yes, soup in the Caribbean, hot sun and everything. I’m telling you for a reason, wink, wink. I can’t say it was the best soup I’ve ever had in the world, because my mum will read this, but it was the best soup I’ve ever had in the world apart from my mum’s.

Marrying Caribbean flavours with global influences, dining at Spice Mill while revelling in the view of Mount Nevis is not to be missed.

Now, sticking with food. I must shout out everywhere in St Kitts.

I didn’t have one bad experience, not one.

As well as a good meal, The Pool Bar & Terrace offers impressive views of the Caribbean Sea and the islands of St Eustace, Saba, St Barts and St Maarten.

ALL BASES COVERED: St Kitts Marriott Resort

I had salmon from a few places during my stay but the best came from Rock Lobster Seafood and Grill.

Aesthetically, and in terms of portions, you must, must, must dine at Boozies Restaurant at least once, if you can secure a table.

Based smack bang on the beach, the restaurant is located in Frigate Bay and offers a more upscale dining experience than you might find at a typical beach bar.

I don’t eat lobster or any shellfish for that matter, but my whole group did and when the dishes came out, they were quite the picture. I’m assuming they tasted good too because all discussion ended when the plates hit the table and doggie bags were requested. Nothing went to waste.

One of the things I couldn’t waste was the opportunity to take in the morning sunrise … staying at the St Kitts Marriott Resort, there’s many things to be grateful for, the pools, the sizable rooms, the service, the casino, spas, multiple restaurants, but the view in the

morning from my room remains one of the most memorable parts.

Coming in from the St Kitts Music Festival in the wee hours of the morning as you do, there is every chance you will encounter this beautiful experience. Don’t waste it.

Massage at dawn anyone? They are on offer as soon as you step foot onto the beach. Even the view from the breakfast dining hall table will have you just staring into the waves from the roaring Atlantic ocean.

Breakfast is brilliant by the way.

St Kitts can be easily reached from the UK via twice-weekly flights from London Gatwick with British Airways. Return flights in World Traveller start from £498 per person. Bargain.

As you read this, no doubt with the central heating on, consider it.

The destination is a nice balance between beach holiday laziness and a chance to ‘venture deeper’.

For those not too interested in the sedentary lifestyle, you can get active with a host of social pastimes from a hike up Mount Liamuiga, paddleboarding to your hearts content, exploring the diverse subaquatic ecosystems with a bit of snorkelling to working your way through the heritage sites such as Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park or Wingfield Estate, one of four places on St Kitts that have 17th century Amerindian petroglyphs (a carving or inscription on a rock).

Last month, St Kitts Tourism Authority announced the St Kitts Ritz-Carlton Resort Hotel and Residences is set to break ground in 2025. The development

IDYLLIC SETTING: The Monkey Bar at St Frigate Bay

EYE-CATCHING: The island offers memorable views marks a new chapter for the island’s hospitality and real estate offerings, positioning St Kitts as a premier luxury destination in the Caribbean. The new development is slated to open in 2028.

Whether you’re heading there for one of the many special occasions

such as Sugar Mas Carnival, their famous music festival or you just want to experience somewhere new with the family or loved ones in 2025, you’re going to cherish your time on this island.

I know I did and hope to do so again and again.

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 39

Travel

PROTECTING OUR ISLAND

S

SITTING WITH Marsha Henderson, the St Kitts Minister of Tourism, on her most recent whistlestop visit to the UK, her message is simple, sustainability is at the heart and soul of everything the country is doing in order to maintain its beauty.

They’re doing a great job.

During my visit to the Caribbean island last year one of observations that kept coming up in conversation between the group of journalists and influencers I was with, was how clean the island was. The efforts locals went to in order to preserve what they have, sustain what they have, occurs,

Sustainability is a way of life on St Kitts, says Tourism Minister Marsha Henderson. By Joel Campbell

seemingly, innately. It’s how they live.

It’s no surprise to hear that year on year numbers of visitors from around the world are increasing, the place is beautiful and the people that live there work hard to keep it that way.

“As a government we are on a journey to transition into a sustainable island state by 2040,” Henderson explained.

“There are different steps in

YEARS IN FONTHILL ROAD

the process For us sustainability is more than environmental responsibility, there is the social aspect of it. But as it relates to environmental responsibility, that’s why the observation came in terms of cleanliness.

“Naturally we are clean people.

Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

She added: “We have embarked on a number of waste management initiatives, we have introduced a ban on single use plastics. Of course it’s a cultural shift, people are still used to plastics.

“We also believe in the preservation of our natural heritage sites and plantations that we own. We’re partnered with a lot of our hoteliers and restaurants to embark on a number of sustainable initiatives.

“In terms of tourism, in May of 2024 we signed the Glasgow Declaration, which means that we have to have our climate action plan in place and we’re working with other small islands developing states to make sure we have a

climate action plan that works for us.”

Henderson said reducing their environmental footprint isn’t just a fad and with the island’s GDP largely dependent on creating appealing all around experiences for future visitors, getting things right now was of paramount importance.

“For us sustainability is not a buzzword, it’s a way of life. We encourage all of our stakeholders to embark.

“We have Sunset Reef which won the most sustainable property. It’s a small boutique hotel and just the way that they create energy and the solutions that they have for water throughout the property outside of desalination, (sets them apart).

“As a government we have embarked on a number of concessions to empower the stakeholders in the industry as well to make sure they are a part of this sustainability drive.

“So for us it’s more than a buzz word. It’s trending, but for us it’s a way of life.”

l Watch the full interview with MESSAGE: Marsha Henderson, St Kitts Minister of Tourism; Marsha Henderson on our website left, with Joel Campbell on her recent visit to the UK

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40 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Lifestyle

Community

‘I’M HERE TO IMPROVE LIFE CHANCES OF YOUNGSTERS’

Trevor Blackman is proving an inspiration in his bid to make communities a better place. By Joel Campbell

Y

OU CAN’T have a conversation with Trevor Blackman and not be caught up in all of his white-hot enthusiasm for just doing good.

The Voice featured the CEO of the Edmonton Community Partnership (ECP) last year in the run up to their successful Health and Wellbeing Festival.

Blackman is adamant his approach to embracing all walks of life from his local community is a blueprint for success across the whole country and told Lifestyle he is pushing to have even greater impact in 2025.

Hailing from Leicester, Blackman says despite the imbalance of his upbringing, he took the positives from wherever he could. It’s a habit that’s held him in good stead.

“When I think back, I volunteered as a 14-year-old at a local play scheme.

“I grew up in a part of Leicester called St Matthews estate. We’re talking disadvantaged, grew up in a single parent family, all of that, but great opportunities as well.

Great support. And I realised,

SUPPORT: Stevo The Madman is someone who shows he cares

particularly when I was 14, the importance, because it had an impact on me, of those play schemes of those youth workers, those mentors, those people who kind of helped guide me, particularly the males, and gave me that male role model.

“And then I was fortunate enough to get a job. I was delivering sandwiches at BBC Radio Leicester and with my nerve I went in and I said, ‘look, I want to work here’.

“I was like 15 at the time. And the producer at the time said, Okay, come back and talk to me.

And she said ‘yes’.

DYSLEXIC “This is where I learned things like communication.

This is where I looked at critical thinking. I was dyslexic, I learned how I could use words in different ways, my voice. I learned a lot.

And again people taking time out to invest in me.”

Those early encounters shaped Blackman into who he is today.

His mission is simple, ‘improve the life chances of children, young people, and their families’.

Following a move to London, Blackman was given the opportunity to run a youth programme and a youth club.

“I really enjoyed that,” he says.

“The biggest issues coming from particularly Black young boys was how the school staff were dealing with them. How they’d be joking and laughing, and the next minute they’re being told they’re being boisterous and they’re not.

“Within our culture. We’re loud at times. A lot of them were being excluded. I was the one going in to advocate for them, because some of the parents couldn’t get in. And I realised the system and how things work, aren’t working right.

“Then I made such a big stink that they then offered me a Year10 programme to look at how we deal with pre-exclusions.

“So I said we should look at a vocational training programme.

Let’s look at doing some alternative education. Let’s look at where the young people are at.

And that doesn’t mean they’re not interested in English and maths.

It’s about how we frame stuff, how it makes sense to them as a people as a person.

“So construction, hairdressing, creative arts, science, technology, all those things I started out doing, and the core of everything was about improving the life chances of young people.”

He’s continued in the same vein ever since.

Looking back at the impact made by the Health and Wellbeing Festival that the ECP hosted last year, which saw the likes of social media personality Stevo The Madman in attendance, and similar initiatives moving forward, Blackman said: “The important thing with Stevo was that he cares, particularly when we talk about sickle cell and blood

DOING GOOD: As CEO of the Edmonton Community Partnership, Trevor Blackman has a key role disorders, for personal reasons he’s a champion of all of that, and I just say Amen to him.

“So he came down to support us on that, and to ensure the Anthony Nolan Trust had a presence to really just connect with the community and enrol as many people as possible as potential blood donors, but also talk to them and listen to them about some of the issues in their life, and say, ‘actually, have you ever considered this?’ So that was good.”

He added: “The opposite side of that was around prostate cancer.

There’s a big drive within the Black community and Black men about getting themselves tested early, and understanding that it’s not emasculating for you to be saying, ‘I’ve got to check things out’.

HEARTS “Healthy hearts was a big thing as well, particularly because of the food we eat in the Black community, high cholesterol, etc. That affects all of us, plus diabetes, too.

“But under arching all of that is about health inequalities.

“The reason when you speak to some people in the Black community about why they’re not connecting with their health providers is because of the

I wouldn’t be where I am now if someone hadn’t taken the opportunity and the time to guide me historic experience they or their family has had in the past.

“And let’s just call it as it is, blatant racism in terms of how they’ve been dealt with, how they’ve not been supported, as practitioners who came to this country, were invited to this country to hold this country up, to rebuild this country. There’s a whole host of reasons.

“And we can have too many reports that say, ‘Oh, we’ve got to do better’. It means nothing, if on the ground you’re not showing up for people.

“So then, the big second driver, when we talk about inequalities, is equity. What does equity look like? What equity looks like is if I can go into a space and I feel

people see me and understand me. So I need to see more, not just Black nurses, but professionals at a higher level.

“Because at the end of the day I say policy is an institution. I really believe that. If the policy speaks to me and I see myself in it. I’m there.

Policy is an institution and people are institutions.”

Blackman knows where he’s going and understands that clarity comes as a result of his journey.

“I wouldn’t be where I am now if someone hadn’t taken the opportunity and the time and space to sit with me, to guide me.

To rass me up when I needed to, you know, put me in a room and look me in the eye and tell me ‘Jesus Christ!’.”

He added: “If someone hadn’t taken the time out to sit with me, to hear me, to understand me, for one I would never have got diagnosed as dyslexic.

“Two, I would never have been given the opportunities that I’ve had, and three, I would never be able to, as we say in the village, each one teach one, pass it on, and that’s what I do.” l Watch the full interview with Trevor Blackman on our website to experience the full unrelenting appetite for his work for yourself

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 41

Health

Lifestyle

PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE!

D

EDICATED TO their mission of providing a holistic approach to oral health with a strong focus on wellness and preventative care, you might want to bookmark the address of The Dental Spa, situated in London’s West End. If you were looking for the high end, Black-owned experience as you prepare for a year of greatness (and the smile you want to have during and at the end of it), then The Dental Spa London should be on your radar.

The Voice covered the launch of their sister branch, Dove Dental & Wellbeing Spa, in south-west London, six years ago. As well as a

PRIDE OF PLACE: Dr Kevin Dapaah shows off new facility

Dove’s Dental Spa is soaring to new heights in the pursuit of oral health excellence. By Joel Campbell

full range of dental and aesthetic treatments, the organisation’s growth and recent expansion sees them offer career and mentoring opportunities for those who desire to access a dental or aesthetic career pathway.

“For us, it’s a great opportunity to show how Black businesses can grow,” Kay Dove, managing director, told Lifestyle at their launch event last year.

“The location really means something to us, because being

based in central London you get access to a wider range of patients, and it gives us the opportunity to continue with our desire and dream to really offer good quality dental care wherever we are.”

The expansion keeps the family legacy going from strength to strength. Dove enthused: “Dove Dental and Wellbeing Spa was our dad’s practice first, it was Dove Dental Surgery and I took over with Dr Kevin Dapaah and Dr Jamal Johnston, and we’ve built something that we know our community needed, but also supporting the local community as well.”

Teeth whitening, composite bonding, Invisalign, facial and body aesthetic treatments and more are on offer at The Dental Spa. The team pride themselves on being able to deliver top-end culturally specific care, an area of growing importance among Black people in the UK who want to be

assured they are being treated by practitioners who are sensitive to issues that pertain to them.

Dr Dapaah added: ”Our clinic will continue to transform the way in which private dentistry and oral health care is delivered to private patients, and we will enable patients to experience luxury treatments that celebrities, top athletes, Olympic stars and influencers often experience.

“We are utilising some of the most advanced technologies and have employed some of the best specialists in the business to provide the most exquisite aesthetic and cosmetic treatments, all set within a luxurious and exclusive environment.”

He added: “For us, it’s expansion, for us it’s growth, it also attracts a different type of clientele.

“For me, being able to see patients in their lunch times or for people who work certain jobs in London, they can see me, we also have late appointments here.

It’s just convenient for a lot of people. It’s not been easy, having a business in these times, but we managed to get this done.”

FAMILY AFFAIR: Kay Dove’s father started the business

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42 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Lifestyle

Books

There’s a title for everyone Book some time to read this year. Joel Campbell has pulled together a list of 12 options for you to take some proactive time away from screen dwelling

THEIR VICIOUS GAMES

By Joelle Wellington YOU MUST work twice as hard to get half as much. Adina Walker has known this the entire time she’s been on scholarship at the prestigious Edgewater Academy – a school for the rich (and mostly white) upper class of New England.

It’s why she works so hard to be perfect and above reproach, no matter what, she must force beneath the surface. Even one slip can cost you everything. And it does.

WATER BABY

By Chioma Okereke SHE’S THE Pearl of Makoko and the world is her oyster.

In Makoko, the floating slum off mainland Lagos, Nigeria, nineteen-year-old Baby yearns for an existence where she can escape the future her father has planned for her. Baby jumps at the chance to join a newly launched drone-mapping project. Then a video of her at work goes viral and Baby finds herself with options she could never have imagined.

PARASOL AGAINST THE AXE

By Helen Oyeyemi HELEN OYEYEMI treats readers to a kaleidoscopic weekend in Prague, as dazzling as it is effortlessly unique.

This novel is a holiday, an adventure, a marvel and a guide. It is a story about the lies behind the lies we tell and a city as a living thing, sustained by the lives of its inhabitants. Suffused with warmth and joy, Parasol Against the Axe is a love letter to Prague and to the art of storytelling.

HOME BODIES

By Tembe Denton-Hurst SHE’S STAYED quiet for too long. Now it’s time to speak her truth. Until 24 hours ago, Mickey Hayward was living the life she’d always dreamed of: working as a full-time writer for a trendy media company (tick), in a committed, loving relationship (tick). Now she’s fired, tossed aside for a younger, more ‘agreeable’ Black writer. Sick of being overlooked, she responds with an online letter detailing the racism she’s faced.

AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN PEOPLE IN BRITAIN: A HISTORY

By Hakim Adi DESPITE THE best efforts of researchers and campaigners, there remains today a steadfast tendency to reduce the history of African and Caribbean people in Britain to a simple story: it is one that begins in 1948 with the arrival of a single ship, the Empire Windrush. Yet, as acclaimed historian Hakim Adi demonstrates, from the moment humans first stood on this rainy isle, there have been African and Caribbean men and women set at Britain’s heart.

BLACK JOY Edited by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff and Timi Sotire JOY SURROUNDS us. It can be found in the day to day. It’s what we live for. So why do we so rarely allow ourselves to revel in it? This must-read anthology is your invitation to do so – and is a true celebration of Black British culture in all its glory. Twenty-eight iconic voices speak on what Black joy means to them in this uplifting and empowering read.

LIBRARY THIEF

By Kuchenga Shenjé THE LIBRARY is under lock and key. But its secrets can’t be contained. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence’s father had her hair hot-combed, to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame – and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester.

THE LOVE INTEREST

By Helen Comerford SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Jenna Ray has just been saved by the world’s newest superhero, Blaze. And, in the eyes of the public, that means one thing: Jenna Ray has been cast as the Love Interest. No. Not happening. But Jenna’s plans to defy the HPA (the Heroics and Power Authority) and turn down this new role are thwarted when the Villains offer a life-changing proposition: become Blaze’s Love Interest, while avoiding catching feelings for him, to uncover the HPA’s secret plans and find her missing mum.

DAMIEN IKE AND THE FALLEN HOUSE OF DRAVEN

By Dee Benson and David Arlo DAMIEN IKE is fortunate. As the son of the most powerful mage in the land, he should have a bright future ahead of him.

But as Damien approaches adulthood, he can’t help but worry that there is no sign of his magic developing. Then Damien stumbles upon a secret his mother has kept from everyone – even him – and everything changes.

GOOD DIRT

By Charmaine Wilkerson WHEN Ebby Freeman travels to France to take a three-month hiatus from her complicated home life, the last person she expects to find is her ex-fiancé Henry, with his new girlfriend in tow. Nearly 20 years earlier, the Freemans were the only African American family living in a wealthy coastal enclave in Connecticut when armed robbers invaded their home and tragedy changed their lives forever.

FINDING JUPITER

By Kelis Rowe RAY HAS no time for romance. She’s queen of the roller rink, she writes poetry, and she’s got her eyes set on her own independent future. Besides, she’s seen what loving someone too much – and losing them – can do to a person. Orion, on the other hand, would like to be smooth with the girls. He looks like the jock his father wants him to be, but really he’s a hopeless romantic. When he spots Ray at the rink, it feels like the stars have aligned. But now it seems like something in their families’ past will stand in their way.

MODEL HOME

By Rivers Solomon TWO BODIES lie in the garden of a sprawling property in Oak Creek Estate, a wealthy gated community in Dallas, Texas.

The bodies belong to the parents of Ezri, Eve and Emmanuel.

In the wake of their parents’ deaths, Ezri and her siblings are forced to confront the reasons they left, the nightmares that have held them captive and the possibility that realities exist beyond those that have forged them.

JANUARY 2025

THE VOICE | 43

HELP EVERYONE SEE THEMSELVES IN HISTORY

At Black Cultural Archives, we connect students of all ages to Black British history.

From children discovering Windrush to helping adults explore unseen parts of their heritage Your contribution keeps our shared history safe and available for your future loved ones.

Discover and donate at blackculturalarchives.org

44 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Lifestyle

25 TO WATCH IN 2025 JENNA HENRY

Jenna Henry is a resilient sickle cell warrior and entrepreneur, who founded Ital Glow to promote health and wellness. With a Masters in Sports Management, she created a life enhancing drink made from 100 per cent carefully sourced natural ingredients.

Rooted from her Jamaican heritage, Ital Glow reflects her dedication to herbal remedies and vitality. The business is set to take off next year and beyond driven by Jenna’s ambitions and determination. There will be an Ital Glow in 2025!

CHARLENE GRAVESANDE

Charlene Gravesande is the founder and CEO of Ink Media Ltd, a sports media production company focusing on diverse sports content.

Previously at Sky Sports for 16 years, her multi-awardwinning career has left an indelible mark on the industry. Recognised by prestigious organisations, Charlene’s talent and expertise extend beyond production.

Charlene has been a vocal supporter of initiatives that promote racial equity in sports and is actively involved in creating pathways for under-represented talent. Ink Media is a response to the lack of diverse sports stories being told in mainstream media. So quite literally, keep watching this space.

JERIAH BOATENG

Jeriah Boateng, an 11-year-old from Croydon, is a passionate footballer and writer. An attacking forward for Brighton & Hove Albion’s academy since the age of seven, Jeriah has big dreams both on and off the pitch. His love for storytelling has seen him set up his own publishing house, Legacy Line Publishers. He was named the U10 category winner of the Premier League Academy Young Writer of the Year Award in the 2022/2023 season and overall winner for 2023/2024 with his story, Back in Time. Talent personified.

LAVINYA STENNET

The Black Curriculum social enterprise organisation was founded in 2019 by Lavinya Stennet. The initial and continued goal is to lobby for more Black British

This year’s Ones to Watch come from a range of different backgrounds. Some of them have already made a name for themselves but Lifestyle believes 2025 could be even bigger

history in the UK curriculum but their reach expands beyond education to music, culture and much more.

Some of their initiatives include mentoring – especially in their Young Champions Programme which we featured in The Voice last year. Stennett’s work isn’t without pushback and resistance but ever since Lifestyle first caught wind of her, the commitment hasn’t wavered. Follow her journey, and where possible support what she’s doing.

DERRICK HILLMAN

When holding a soiree and the topic of mixing comes up, usually we’re referring to the DJ, not so in this case.

Having moved to London from Bath, Derrick Hillman found himself in the world of hospitality where he quickly realised there was an element of the industry he could grow for himself. Alas, the Private Mixologist was born.

Just like the cocktails he mixes and serves, Hillman is an effervescent character. He’s business savvy, too. Over the last couple of years he has managed to grow the number of mixologists that work with him to 18, allowing him to be everywhere. Only a matter of time before the brand becomes one we see at every event.

NADU PLACCA-RODRIGUEZ The managing Director of Zoo XYZ is not new to the business of event delivery, in fact she’s been at it for close to two decades.

However, it seems like she is just getting her shine, just getting recognition

ALT BLK ERA

Last year was a good one for sisters Nyrobi, 20, and Chaya, 17. The duo, ALT BLK ERA, are quickly becoming recognised for their unique genre-blending sound since first releasing music in 2022. Their mix of rock guitars with Rap, DnB and Electronic music leads to high energy performances that have seen them perform at major festivals including Glastonbury, Download and Reading and Leeds. They were nominated for MOBO and Heavy Music Awards in 2024, for “Best Alternative Act” and “Best UK Breakthrough Artist” respectively. They ended the year with a sold-out London show under their belt.

from peers across the business. Her client roster is too long to list here but when we say she has worked with them all, she has worked with them all. We’ll be telling her story in the coming months so stay tuned.

DJ AG

Given the 2024 he’s had, many might find it difficult to understand why he’s on this year’s Ones to Watch, but something tells us the story has just begun where this forward thinking entertainer is concerned.

He’s galvanised a movement with community focus at its core that is beyond admirable. Where he directs his growing influence next will be interesting.

It’s not just Lifestyle, the whole world is watching DJ AG.

ASHAINE WHITE

Ashaine is a young Black woman in music with a mindset which isn’t defined by a specific hairstyle, or the makeup she wears or even restricting the sonics of the music she creates to fit neatly within any one subculture.

Instead, her dream is to connect people to themselves through her music, and do so by existing as freely and authentically as she possibly can. She’s an artist that strives to be ‘alternative’ in the purest sense of the word. The way she moves is a breath of fresh air, cut from a different cloth.

AMAHLA

What a last five years this young lady has had! It began with her debut project Consider This in 2019, followed by her second EP Where Do We Go From Here? in 2021. Her talent for songwriting was recognised early on when she won the PRS Lynsey De Paul Prize for Young Songwriters in 2019 and was subsequently nominated for the inaugural Ivor Novello Rising Star Award in 2020.

Additionally, she reached the finals of the Glastonbury Emerging Artist Competition in 2022. If you’re unfamiliar with her music (that’s why she’s on the list) you shouldn’t be.

Last year was another massive year for her.

Her profile has soared with viral success on TikTok and impactful singles such as Enough, Have Mercy, along with a unique compilation The Collection.

STEPH OLU

Jollof Rice in 90 seconds, anyone?

Can’t be true, right?

Must be someone attempting the impossible? Not for Steph Olu, co-founder of Meji Foods. She believed from the beginning that it was possible and after much time getting the recipe right, Sainsbury’s agreed and took all of the stock she had. The product is already in 200 stores but Lifestyle has a little insight into plans for the future and they are not small, small. Check out our interview with her on The Voice website and grab a bag today.

DAVID KAZADI

If you ever get to meet this man in real life it’ll be impossible for you not to be impacted by his fervent drive and ambition.

Lifestyle already featured David Kazadi in the December issue of The Voice but we’re putting him on this 2025 list too because this year, well, he’s one to watch.

The London-raised filmmaker fell in love with his craft when he was in university. What he has built since then, over the last few years, is inspirational. Many talk about ‘going back to Africa’ and ‘doing something there’, David is streets ahead of the crowd and if what he’s built already is an insight into things to come, we’ll be watching him well beyond 2025, that’s for sure. Check out our interview with him on The Voice website.

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 45

25 to watch in 2025 IMMANUEL FEYI-WABOSO

This professional rugby union player has attracted the attention of even the most passive rugby fans. He’s got that star quality about him and although Exeter won’t thank us much for saying as much, it’s only a matter of time before he’s at another club looking to fill his cabinet full of honours. It’s a short career, he’s made a lot of noise in a short period of time. Won’t be long then before he’s a household name, whether you watch rugby or not.

COLE JERMAINE PALMER

It’s super exciting times for this young baller. Lifestyle, The Voice, Chelsea fans, England fans, we’re all praying he doesn’t get too sucked into the hype and fame and he keeps it football focused. He was brave to leave Man City at the time, he clearly valued himself above what those around him did. Possessing that level of self awareness, at such a young age, is why he is where he is. Where can he go? There’s no limits, the world is truly is his oyster.

SUSAN INDIABA WOKOMA

This British actress, writer and director (yeah, multifaceted) is on the brink.

Not of becoming everything she wanted to be, nah, she did that already. She’s on the verge of being Issa Rae big, Michaela Coel big, you know, BIG BIG. Lifestyle weren’t the only ones that appreciated the energy she brought in the BBC drama series Cheaters.

YANEXI ENRIQUEZ

Lifestyle saw this young play the role of Sindi-Ella in the Brixton House retelling of Cinderella last year, she was brilliant. She’s currently playing a lead role in the National Theatre’s production of Ballet Shoes, at the Olivier until February 22, so go and check that and her out.

There’s something special about the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts trained graduate. We’ll catch up with her later this year but if you see her name pop up associated with any future theatre productions in 2025, you might want to head down there.

ENYI OKORONKWO

Be it theatre work, television or film, this young man has got the talent to comfortably execute on all fronts. He’s been playing the role of Shawn in King James directed by Alice Hamilton at the Hampstead Theatre, and if you’re quick smart, you might just be able to catch him performing, (assuming you grab your copy of The Voice as soon as it comes out) the show run ends on January 4, 2025. If you missed that, then there is always the rest of the year to keep up to speed with his next moves.

VEE KATIVHU

Lifestyle has already sat and spoken with this young lady so we KNOW, she’s one to watch, not just this year but as we move forward. The Girls’ Education Activist and Young Leader at the United Nations, who uses her online platforms to support over 300,000 underrepresented youth to reach their full academic potential, came to prominence via YouTube. Documenting her journey at Oxford University as a young Black woman through Vlogs, generated a following that even she could never have dreamed of. Watching her effortlessly work the stage at a recent YouTube Black Edition celebratory event simply confirmed that greatness isn’t too far off. If you didn’t know her name, get to know.

LEO MIYAGEE

Born in Zimbabwe, made in Belfast via south London, Leo has turned a few heads since they were nominated Ticketmaster Rising Irish Artist of the Year and Soultrane’s first resident artist from 2025-2026 – Northern Ireland’s first ever Soul festival. This year is slated to see Leo embark on a UK and Ireland tour and the album is coming. Leo’s style of hip-hop has a number of fans comparing styles with other notable performers in the space. Lifestyle believes Leo’s style is uniquely Leo’s.

SELMA NICHOLLS

The winner of the 2024 Black British Theatre Awards Best Casting Director, Selma has been doing her thing for over a decade. Her thing?

Raising the profile of underrepresented voices featured in mainstream content, celebrating an inclusive spectrum of people through casting. Check out her interview on The Voice website for more on the type of woman she

is but rest assured, she’s on this Ones to Watch list for a reason. Her work as Looks Like Me founder, casting director CDA and public speaker is renowned and 2025 will see her brand grow bigger and more important to the space.

ARCHIE MADDOCKS

This man kicks off 2025 strong with his work on Crongton going live to the world. Sarah Muller, Senior Head of Children’s Commissioning 7+, BBC Children’s and Education, has already lauded the work as ‘a brilliant example of unique British storytelling and a lens through which young people can understand the world around them.’ She’s not wrong.

Archie’s no stranger to success. Already an award-winning multi-disciplined artist, with extensive experience in comedy and drama, it’s about time everyone knew his name.

Expect more from this man this year.

CATCH

Lifestyle believes this artist is a special talent and we want her to go far. The music isn’t for everyone.

We get that.

But the talent is undeniable. She flows and feels.

By feels, we mean, she spits bars like every word is the truth coming from the bottom of her spirit. We love that. Genuine authenticity. Time will tell on whether or not she’s let loose on this scene to do the damage Lifestyle believes she can.

SARAH KITTOE

Born with a natural talent for storytelling, Sarah has been weaving enchanting tales from a tender age. Supported by her amazing parents Nozipho and Albert Kittoe and mentored by Daniella Blechner, Book Journey Mentor and founder of Conscious Dreams Publishing, as well as having her younger sister Mary cheerlead her on, Sarah has a great team around her. Last year saw her release her fourth book, Ama and the Lost Key. The no limit to where this young girl can go.

MOKO

This man’s movements are like a quiet storm, people know about the impact but the world will soon see for themselves. The CEO of Congo To Global, Moko has been overseeing the delivery of top tier African music events for years. His network is testament to his work ethic and his ability to execute is widely respected. Lifestyle is aware of a few global companies considering potentially partnering up. All we know is that today’s price is not yesterday’s price.

TAMARA BARTON-CAMPBELL

You may not see her but there’s every chance you have seen her work. Tamara is the founder of award-winning Renaissance Studios and the Rebirth Project CIC. She’s been doing a lot of important work with major TV networks, and commanding the attention of decision makers in an impactful way. She gets it done!

46 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Sport Arsenal and England star Raheem Sterling seeks to educate, empower and inspire the next generation with his Foundation.

By Rodney Hinds

R

AHEEM Sterling is one of the finest players of his generation. Born on December 8, 1994, in Kingston, Jamaica, Raheem moved to England at a young age.

He began his career at Liverpool, where he gained prominence before transferring to Manchester City in 2015.

During his time at City, he won multiple Premier League titles and other domestic trophies.

Known for his speed, dribbling ability, versatility on the field and eye for goal, after a spell with Chelsea, Raheem joined Arsenal during the summer on loan.

He is also an important player for the England national team, representing his country 82 times in various international competitions, including the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA World Cup. His contributions on the field have made him one of the notable players in contemporary football.

Away from the field he is keen to help young people. The Raheem Sterling Foundation was created from his vision and dedication to championing the next generation, as he seeks to educate, empower and inspire the next generations to become better prepared for the future and to embrace opportunities to achieve greater social mobility.

The Foundation’s mission has reached across Jamaica, the UK and beyond, to champion greater social mobility, further education, empowerment, and to facilitate young people despite the challenges they may face in achieving their full potential.

Here he talks to The Voice sports editor, Rodney Hinds, about the Foundation, life at Arsenal and his love of Jamaica…

RH: What made you set up your own Foundation?

RS: The stuff that I faced as a young child, is stuff that I know that kids from a similar background are facing.

It’s just something that I wanted to do, something that I could have a personal touch on, something where I can actually

WHY A STRONG COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS SO IMPORTANT TO RAHEEM me discipline. That taught me hard work, taught me all these things, and I loved it. It showed me what I believe is a blueprint for pretty much any walk of life. Once we can have that focus on something, we can achieve pretty much anything we want, really.

“It is important to give something back, it can be anything but give You talked earlier about the experience leading to something back personal the Foundation being set up. to help at least Share a bit more about that please. one person” There are friends that I’ve

IN CONVERSATION: Raheem Sterling with Rodney Hinds

relate to people, to understand exactly where they’re at in their life.

I think that’s the main reason, and I feel that’s what we’re here to do as humans, it’s to achieve something. When you do achieve

something, it is important to give something back, even if it’s information, it can be anything but give something back to help at least one person.

Your aim should be to at least

help someone, and hopefully that carries on.

What sort of impact are you looking to make?

The impact that I really want to have is more about the mentality of how young people view ourselves. Also understanding the power of what we actually have inside of us if we focus.

I was lucky, I had football that I had to focus on, and that taught

had at academies. I’ve seen it, good friends of mine, best friends of mine, and then we kind of sway because of that focus and some people say it comes down to where you are, environments and that.

It is easy to get distracted, but at the same time, it’s having an understanding of what you want and keeping that discipline.

For those that maybe don’t have the same sort of mental strength, what advice could you give them?

One that I’m big with my daughter

on, is having a mind of her own in the sense where she was doing gymnastics and she wanted to walk home from school.

I said to her, ‘no, you can’t walk home from school yet’, until I know you can make your own mind.

I think one of the big things growing up is that we haven’t fully mastered how to control our minds and what we actually want to do.

There’s the power of influence, you have friends, you have television, these are all things that add to a decision that you make.

So, it’s being able to understand that and knowing that if you don’t want to do something, and this is what you see yourself as, and you want to go in this way, just go with that.

If a group of people don’t align with your way, it is best you stay at a distance and love from a distance. I felt like that’s something I was probably good at when I was younger, is understanding where this could go and making that decision.

It’s just about understanding and realising now you need to

JANUARY 2025 THE VOICE | 47

RAHEEM STERLING, along with Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jurrien Timber, took part in two particular sessions during the Community Visits in December.

The players engaged with attendees during various sessions and were warmly welcomed.

Autographs were signed and pictures taken as the Premier League stars took time out to engage with the community.

Arsenal’s objective during initiatives such as Community Visits are to: • Show the world what they stand for and create a sense of belonging in their communities in Islington and around the world.

• Show through their actions that they act for a winning community — and team, community and culture.

• Lift the voices of supporters within

Photos: Arsenal FC

taken some young people over to Jamaica and experience a different environment.

That’s one that is going to grow more.

If you want something done, you have to do it yourself. My thing is I need to make sure I have enough time that I can oversee certain things as well, because I don’t want to just do something, I want to be involved. I want to be on the ground.

I want to be able to go with the kids, go there and spend time and meet them, it’s all those things, but that’s definitely

their community, making them a core part of who they are.

• Show their players in a positive light, and that they understand team and community fuel each other.

The key messaging of the Club is: • Creating a sense of belonging and driving progress in their communities that has been central to the Club since 1886.

• Arsenal are proud of their heritage and the impact they continue to make.

• The Club is in a privileged position where their actions inspire change both locally and globally — the goal is to continue driving progress together.

• Supporters in their communities fuel them and drive them forward.

• Together the Club achieves more.

• The stories from those in the Arsenal community give inspiration — all the same family and win together.

Jamaica is very much still in your heart, isn’t it?

Yes, 100 per cent. I was raised in pretty much a Jamaican household, and I just love every single thing about the culture.

I get out there every summer.

It’s warm weather training, mental training, and back to reality training.

It is a beautiful place and a place that really humbles you. Every time I go to Jamaica, I come back, I believe I know the purpose of life. Everything is simple, I smile, laugh and all these things that always bring me back centred.

“I was raised in a With the busy Christmas and New Jamaican household, Year period coming up, you must be hoping for a few more minutes? and I just love every Like anything, every player wants to week in, week out. As I’ve got to single thing about play understand the environment I’ve come the culture. It is a into, the boys have been on a journey over the last couple of years. place that really It’s ultimately the manager’s decision, all I’ve got to do is keep training hard, humbles you” and working hard, and hopefully take those

look out for it. We have to be aware of these things. We have to be aware because every day we’re being influenced, there are distractions everywhere, so it’s trying to stay concentrated on your something I want to do. I don’t know the time and the exact time it will happen, goals. but that’s something that will definitely Your Foundation is active in materialise, that’s what I’ve always seen Jamaica. Where are you with that at myself doing from a young age. the moment?

I’ll always make sure I follow through We’ve had one or two trips where we’ve with that to have something there.

opportunities when they come, even if it’s five minutes, 10 minutes, whatever it is, and look at that with a positive mindset.

Everyone wants to play. If you ask every player that is in a squad, everyone wants to play week in, week out. Now I just stay positive and wait for those opportunities.

Your vast experience of winning trophies, being in big games can surely positively affect the group that you’ve just described?

I feel like a team that wins trophies, there is always healthy competition.

There are always people pushing each other because I believe that if there’s a group of top players and they know the league well, everyone’s pushing each other, and everyone is competing.

I think that only drives the group to go and do greater things. I feel like that’s what I’m hoping to do at some point, is to hopefully be competing, if I’m not competing, then I’m not really alive.

I feel like every top team has players that are of the same calibre and could win their team matches and titles.

How have you found playing at the Emirates Stadium?

Not because I’m at Arsenal now, I’ve always loved the Emirates. You come out there and it’s like carpet.

The Champions League nights at Emirates have been some good nights and there have been some good days.

It’s a very warm football club, with a very warm fan base. Of course, I’ve come in during a period where it is all going well. It has been a very good experience being at the Emirates. l Raheem was speaking during Arsenal’s Community Visits

OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE THE Care Leavers session was delivered in partnership with Islington Council to support young people who have been in care.

The attendees were aged 16 to 25.

The young people who attended are being supported into further education or employment opportunities. There was an informative Q&A session with the players.

Mehdi has been taking part in programmes with Arsenal in the Community over a number of years and has progressed well.

National award for LCP mentor Williams

‘WE WIN TOGETHER’

INVOLVED: Raheem with a fan

THE second session was in partnership with charities Freedom From Torture and the Helen Bamber Foundation. The alliance supports adult asylum seeker and refugees.

Bosco has been part of the Arsenal in the Community for several years. He has benefited through taking part in the project which forms part of his wider therapy with Freedom From Torture.

Photo: PA Images

WARM WELCOME: Raheem says it has been a very good experience being at the Emirates

WIDER THERAPY: The alliance has helped many

LONDON Coaches Program (LCP) mentor, Lisa Williams, was named Coach Developer of the Year at the UK Coaching Awards, recognising her significant impact on developing coaches.

Announced at a prestigious ceremony in Leeds last month — hosted by the UK’s leading organisation for coaches of sport and physical activity — Williams was honoured with the award to mark her ingenuity and passion to see other coaches succeed in basketball.

As a valued member of the LCP, Williams has honed the coaching skills of over 130 Londoners aged

PASSION: Lisa Williams 16-30, adding to the thousands of coaches she has mentored as one of Basketball England’s coach education tutors during her career — providing them all with the tools, techniques and strategies to enhance their basketball player development philosophy.

She said of her recognition: “I am emotional because you do so much and you do it because you love it, and you do it because it’s the right thing to do. And you don’t expect a pat on the back. It’s actually nice to have an award with my name on it. I’ve been doing it for years and no one’s ever said, ‘we see you we see what you’re doing, and we appreciate you’.

“It’s good to be able to represent basketball in a positive way so that other sports can see that basketball is doing things the right way and getting the recognition that we truly deserve.

We do good things, and we need to shout about it as much as we possibly can.”

By Rodney Hinds

48 | THE VOICE JANUARY 2025

Sport

ST LUCIA’S GOLDEN GIRL

NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Julien Alfred celebrates winning the 100m gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games in August; below, Julien with Joel Campbell at the ExCeL Centre (main photo: Getty Images)

I

T’S UNDERSTANDABLE that when people remember the headline, ‘Julien Alfred storms to historic gold for Saint Lucia’ they will automatically think of the Paris Olympic Games. But that wasn’t the first time those words had been written in 2024.

Those from her beloved country, the region that is the Caribbean and lovers of track and field will know that the aforementioned headline was also written 12 months ago when she stormed to victory at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

If you have been paying close attention, that win wasn’t an announcement that she was coming, it was a statement that she was well and truly here.

We all saw what Alfred did in Paris to win the 100m and then go onto land a silver in the 200m. It was a clinical display of sprinting at its highest level, performances that gave every impression that, as outstanding as she was, there’s better to come.

Speaking with the athlete at the ExCeL Centre in east London at last year’s World Travel Market, where she was lending support to the St Lucian travel authority, assisting in their efforts to

Sprint queen Julien Alfred says she has no plans to slow down in 2025. By Joel Campbell promote the beautiful country, she told the Voice of Sport as good a year as it was, she’s back in training and intends to continue putting her country in the record books.

Describing what the reception was like when she returned to St Lucia after her success in Paris, she said: “It was such an experience that I was really grateful for.

“After stepping off the plane I

“My top three targets for 2025 are to grow as a person, mentally, physically and spiritually. And I want to continue to do well on the track

was welcomed by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Sport, the Government I would say, I was just welcomed by them.

“And there were St Lucians outside the airport awaiting my arrival, people were dancing, people were singing, people were cheering, it was just a crazy experience that I will always be grateful for.”

No slacking, even as she sits having this interview, her mind is on training the next day. This newspaper was privy to some of the pearls of wisdom Alfred shared with young athletes at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, where she was doing her sessions while in the UK. Posting on their Instagram page, The Be Fit Today Track Academy, who train at the same venue, wrote: “Cannot overstate the value of a few words of wisdom from someone who has already achieved a great feat, such as

Olympic gold! @julien.alfred spent several minutes speaking with our athletes, answering questions, and giving tangible advice. Letting them know it is possible. This is real Olympic work. Thanks Julien!”

Alfred said: “I had five weeks off.

I’m back in training now. I have to stick to what I know. I’m here at the World Travel Market using what I have done to now become a tourism ambassador to promote my country.”

She added: “My top three targets for 2025 are to grow as a person, mentally, physically and spiritually.

“I want to continue to be an inspiration for those in my country, especially the youth. I want to continue to be a good ambassador for my country both on and off the track.

“And I want to continue to do well on the track for myself, for my country, for my coach and for those who have poured so much into me. I want to do well for them as well.”