By Noel Williams

Noel Williams is a U.K. Criminal and Social Justice Policy Adviser, and Chair of Trustees at London Village Network. His work has lead him onto international stages, as a One Young World Ambassador and advocate for stronger institutions while fighting against racial and social injustices. He led thousands on a peaceful positive protest from London’s Hyde Park to Brixton, an inner city south London area with its own dark historical note when it comes to police relations with the black British community. But, as he told us later as part of our No More Silence conversations on Instagram, he didn’t just wake up one day as a social influencer or the position he is in today to instigate change within criminal and social justice systems. Noel grew up in a deprived area of London, surrounded by gang crime, and from a young age has been consciously moving himself away from that. As a 3rd generation Jamaican man living in South London, the racial injustice and struggle for equality is hereditary, and has been a fight for generations. 

We sat down with him to talk about how we can individually and collectively keep up the pressure, as while the Black Lives Matter movement is at the forefront of global media and taking over coronavirus news, we need to make sure we don’t lose momentum in the weeks, months and years to come. It’s not always about doing big, public things like attending protests or speaking out on social media. Silent forms of activism are so important.

Here are three practical ways Noel suggested that all of us can start to make positive change within our communities. 

Get into politics if you can, or inspire others to 

If you want to see a change in the political landscape, or feel disillusioned by who’s running your country right now, why not be part of the change by setting out for a career in politics? Now I know this doesn’t always seem like an opportunity for everyone, especially when politics isn’t currently part of the national curriculum (for the UK it isn’t at least).  For those of you who are in a position of influencing what’s on school curriculums, use your voice to help open up this opportunity to more people. Join local government bodies, apply to be on school advisory boards, get yourself into meetings where policy is being made. Have your voice heard and make it known that there are fundamental subjects that are being missed off the curriculum. 

Volunteer in your local communities 

One of the best ways you can make positive change in a way that is accessible and feasible for you, is by volunteering your time to your local community. Local food banks always need volunteers, local charities too. Think about where you can offer up your time, even if it is just a few hours a week.  If you’re living in London, consider volunteering for London Village Network - a charity that offers the opportunity for professionals to volunteer an hour of their time to inspire young people, particularly those who are more vulnerable, growing up in deprived areas and/or caught up in the criminal system. 

Offer up your talents to your community 

Doing things in your own realm is really important - and you can reach out to the community through whatever talent you have. Baking, piano, yoga, dance, writing, coding, just to name a few. These are things that you can offer to your community and inspire kids to explore these, whether they are just hobbies or career paths. If you have something you’re passionate about, you could inspire that passion in somebody else and allow them to feel empowered to follow their dreams - show them that it is possible.

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