Merseyside Young Transformers Programme
The Tutu Foundation UK is part of an exciting new initiative launched in Merseyside on 8th November 2007. The lead agency in the partnership is the Community Foundation for Merseyside who with the Merseyside police and the Tutu Foundation UK aim to tackle anti-social behaviour, create transformational opportunities for young people and explore theissue of gang culture.
A new fund is being established which aims to provide grants to local groups and community leaders to provide diversionary and transformational local activities for young people on the verge of crime and to create safer and stronger communities.
The role of the Tutu Foundation UK is to bring the groups receiving funding together to share experience and lessons being learned and to provide training which introduces perspectives from further afield. The Foundation believes that transformation comes through processes which bring changes in the way we view other people who come from different backgrounds and generations. "We need to spread the realisation that we all share a common humanity; we are all part of the same human family; we can celebrate our diversity and create bonds of friendship and inter-dependency within our neighbourhoods." says David Evans, Director of the Tutu Foundation UK. "The African concept of ubuntu has so much to teach us in our westernised and often fragmented culture."
The launch event. From left to right: David Evans, Director of the Tutu Foundation UK,
Cathy Elliott, Development Director, Community Foundation for Merseyside,
Inspector Rowley Moore of the Merseyside Police and
Dave Roberts, CEO Community Foundation for Merseyside