Tyrone Moore, 25, is a social entrepreneur, aiming to create a
positive path for the disadvantaged youth of his community.
Moore was raised by a single mother and his granddad, who was ultimately his father figure and whom he took to as an inspiration during his former years. Having huge respect and admiration for his granddad, Moore was hugely involved with being an army cadet when he was young. Thereafter, he decided to join the army, follow in the footsteps of his family and make his granddad proud.
Moore was raised by a single mother and his granddad, who was ultimately his father figure and whom he took to as an inspiration during his former years. Having huge respect and admiration for his granddad, Moore was hugely involved with being an army cadet when he was young. Thereafter, he decided to join the army, follow in the footsteps of his family and make his granddad proud.
He went on to study sports science at Brookes University, and now
he's also got a BA in Youth and Community under his belt. Moore went on
to describe himself as 'a bright individual'. "The positive path is
what I needed," he claims.
Speaking on why he eventually joined the army at the age of 17, he
said, "I wanted to do something different, so I joined the army. It taught
me a lot of lessons, how to cook, clean. I learnt a lot whilst being part of
the army, including looking after and fending for myself."
Discussing his initial idea development for his community project,
he claimed '" It started on remand in HMP. It was regarding an offence
that was linked to me acting on self-defence. But because of my army history, I
was on remand. It definitely made a transition in my life, as I wanted to see
what else I could do, so I created 'Positive Path'. And it's a positive path
for young individuals, working mainly with offenders as well as challenging and
difficult young people."
Moore's love for working with young people has grown over the
years, as he recalls, "My youth work dates back to when I was 14. When I
was 14, I started volunteering at my local youth club and I took a shine to
basketball. So I became a sports coach and started working in a CDI club and
then progressed up. One thing about being a youth worker is that a young person
can never turn around and say, 'Yeah, but you don't know what you're talking
about.' I been there and done it. I've changed, so lets see what you can
do," he said smiling.
Very much immersed in wanting to create positive change, Moore
began working with a company based in Croydon, called 'Eleveating Success'.
"Some of the things I done with young people were phenomenal. We've got a
short film based on knife crime, as part of the knife intervention scheme. It
couldn't be published publicly on YouTube, due to safeguarding issues. The
local community and police got involved. It was satisfying or the young people,
as rather than seeing police put people in handcuffs all the time, they
thought, 'Oh they're actually coming down to help us.' It was the police
actually onsite, actually engaging with the things young people were doing.
That was a turnaround and that was in Croydon. I'm trying to have an impact on
neighbouring boroughs, Lambeth and Southwark and where ever else I can
reach," he claims enthusiastically.
Touching on Positive Path again, Moore told me, " The target
sector is young people aged 13-19, that are NEET (not in education, employment
or training. As part of Positive Path, we would be offering SIA training, so
they can get a door licence. Helping them with their theory driving test and
also equipping them with CSS cards for construction site work. Positive Path
would ideally be an information and education centre for young people. It's all
about getting them the right information to steer them on the positive path. If
you've noticed, they've took away all the connexions, so there's nowhere for
young people to get this information under one roof, so that was what I was
trying to do."
If he isn't at the gym, you're most likely to find Moore in a
meeting, which will be to expand and nurture his community project, Positive
Path. His project is actually registered as a charity company, under a
categorised community interest company. Donations can actually be made online,
on the company website.
Moore has had his eyes set on a vacant building opposite the
McDonalds in Central Brixton, as a potential building for the Positive
Path information and education centre. " I have contacted local MP, Chuka
Umunna, requesting a building for the young people to work. I have also
contacted Rachel Haywood and spoke to various other Labour party members.
When I walked in to Lambeth town hall, I actually spoke to a gentleman
named Luke, who is a councillor," he recalls.
"I've sent a bid to Lewisham and Lambeth probation,
describing that the programme as an alternative to what used to be called an
ISS programme, which stands for intense supervision surveillance. The idea
would be to work with local authorities to provide workshops. So, for example,
if the housing association want to give people CSS cards to rid them of
unemployment, we would be the ones to sort it out,"he explained.
But Moore hasn't stopped there. His ambitions are sky high, as he
has even wrote a letter to Boris Johnson, asking for some guidance, as Johnson
is very much involved in encouraging community related activity.
Having thought out his plans very strategically, Moore mentioned
that he has a core team who work under Positive Path. "They've all got
first aid training, all have been in the youth work background, all been CRB
checked and OFSTED registered," he announced.
Moore has recently been in partnership with Solomon Smith who runs
Brixton's Soup Kitchen, to do community work together and nurture each others
projects. They have both organised an event on Saturday 12th of July called
'Community Clean Up'. The aim of the event is to get as much volunteers from
the local community to come and help clean the outside of the Brixton Social
Club, to make it look more pleasant to the eye. It is now where Brixton's Soup
Kitchen has been rehoused, so it is significant that the place looks appealing,
as on the day potential funders may be visiting the venue. "The image of
this place has to change," said Moore, looking around the room.
"I want that closure. Us as young black men, were the ones
they look up to. They look at YouTube and see our videos. And if you're not
doing positive things, who are they going to look up to?" he remarked.
It is refreshing to see that Moore is so passionate about
educating and protecting young people from getting on to the wrong path in
life, despite his tragic past. I wish him every success with Positive Path, and
I hope he can help every young person in his community to stay on the positive
path.
If you have any queries, please contact Tyrone Moore on :
positivepath2013@gmail.com
Or alternatively, follow him on twitter for the latest updates
: @malachipositive
And on Instagram : positivepathuk
Visit the Positive Path website on :www.positivepath.wix.com/youth