About James Ross Hunter Youth Support
James Ross Hunter Youth Support is a non-profit organisation established in July 2014, committed to fostering positive social values within our young people and communities. Located at TNG Youth and Community Centre, 111 Wells Park Road, Sydenham, London SE26 6AD, we focus on delivering impactful community workshops and activities that are family-oriented and aimed at promoting youth wellbeing.
With generous donations and community fundraising, we create substantial knife crime awareness campaigns. This includes our annual knife crime awareness poster competition and various educational projects and events. Every pound we raise is reinvested directly into community efforts, with ongoing workshops in schools that promote mindfulness, respect, emotional awareness, and educate about the serious consequences of carrying knives. Our yearly events unite diverse organisations to combat social isolation, promote safer streets, and build pathways for support and growth across all age groups.
Our Story
Founded in memory of James Ross Hunter, who tragically lost his life while saving another from a gang attack, our organisation has sparked visual knife crime awareness initiatives. His mother, inspired by his poignant drawing of the incident, has been proactive in sensitising families and the public to the dangers of knife crime and the support available. This perspective was shaped during her arrival in the UK after losing her son. Through visual awareness campaigns and collaborative workshops with the Lewisham police team, she has raised critical points on the importance of community support.
In 2019, she published 'Five Years Later: Memoirs from a Mother's Diary', which is now used to complement her workshop deliveries on 'realistic optimism.' Her 'WFC' programme (Waking Moments, Following Through, and Closures) is rooted in her personal experience of losing her son to knife crime five years after moving from the Caribbean.
Our Impact
We are proud to have been nominated for the Lewisham Mayor Award, recognizing our ongoing commitment to community service and youth support. In response to serious violent acts in the area, we provided recommendations to Lewisham Council on reducing violence within the borough.
The 'Daisy' pin symbolizes our dedication to victim awareness, with its colors representing cherished memories, new beginnings, and hope for future generations—green was incorporated in 2024 to enhance this symbol. On JRHYS' 10th anniversary, our founder, Collet Hunter, unveiled a visual awareness monument designed by Carl Gabriel, sparking discussions about trauma as part of Civil Society Consulting's '32 Steps to Togetherness' initiative. The event included keynote speakers, Q&A sessions, music therapy, and a 'healing market' offering various healing modalities like acupuncture and sound healing, accessible to everyone.
Get Involved
We invite volunteers to join us in making a positive difference in our communities. Throughout May, particularly during National Knife Crime Awareness Month, we run awareness campaigns, including May Days Yellow Day, to educate the public about the implications of carrying knives and amplify the voices of victims. On 31st May at 11:00 am, we will observe a minute of silence in unity, encouraging schools and organisations to engage in creative sessions leading up to this important day.
