“People become what they believe.” The latest episode of my ‘Manifesto for Hope’ podcast. This episode with Chine McDonald, Director of @theosthinktank! Chine’s work around spirituality & society is as profound as it is inspirational. 🎧 Listen here: manifesto.oasisuk.org/episodes/11

Any society that really cares about giving all its children the best possible start in life, must invest heavily in its schools, its children’s & youth provision, & its family support. To fail to do so exacts a huge price on its young as well as on its overall health & stability.

Why do we still accept the Victorian idea of schools holding bake sales & charities rattling tins to find cash for the welfare of our children? Surely, a top priority of any intelligent society is for its government to adequately invest in the education & health of its children.

Oasis Restore represents a revolution for the youth justice system & real hope for the young people who become our students. Yesterday we welcomed around 100 guests to meet our staff & discover more about the science behind our therapeutic work. More here👇🏼tes.com/magazine/analy…

Schools play a vital, often the only wholesome, role in teaching children & young people about healthy relationships, sex & sexuality. This needs to be both age & context appropriate, but without it many are left facing a complex, sexualised world with no wise support & guidance.

Aged 8, decades before the internet, I learned about sex in a playground one break time. I didn’t believe it. The next day my friend brought some explicit photos from a porn mag to prove his point. What I needed then was appropriate, wise guidance from my school. Trust teachers!

This is my conversation with my guest & expert witness Derrick Evans MBE aka ⁦⁦Mr Motivator MBE⁩ , fitness instructor, keynote speaker and TV personality. We talk about Principle 9: People follow people, not disembodied principles. Listen here: manifesto.oasisuk.org/episodes/10

People follow people, not disembodied ideas! It’s Principle 9 of my Manifesto for Hope podcast with my good friend Derrick Evans MBE aka Mr Motivator MBE! I've known Derrick for thirty years. If everyone understands this principle, it's Derrick! Listen here: manifesto.oasisuk.org/episodes/10

If you really want to cut youth violence, the answer is to invest in youth inclusion!

Vision and frustration always sit together. What is vision? It is longing for what is not yet. What is frustration? It is longing for what is not yet. So, if you have genuine vision, learn to get used to the frustration that goes with it!

“I was hungry…I was thirsty…I was a stranger…I needed clothes…I was sick…I was in prison…& you came to me.” Oasis response - supported housing, health care, schools, children’s, youth & family work, community development & justice services. And still so much more to do!

At last! America and President Joe Biden are waking up to the war crimes of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government; crimes which have always betrayed the good people of Israel and caused the murder, mutilation or traumatisation of the entire innocent populations of Gaza & the West Bank.

This Saturday we gather to celebrate the life & legacy of hope of Richard Taylor OBE, father of Damilola, Southwark Cathedral. I look forward to leading the service with Mark Oakley with music from Beverley Knight💙 LONDON COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR & JermainJackman🇬🇾 & tributes from Rio Ferdinand & others.

This Saturday we pay final respects to our Richard Taylor OBE with a service to commemorate his life & legacy at Southwark Cathedral We are grateful to Reverend Steve Chalke and are humbled that Beverley Knight💙 & JermainJackman🇬🇾 voices will fill the cathedral with love #LegacyOfHope

The big smart phone & social media companies behave exactly like the giant tobacco & oil companies before them. Driven by greed, they do anything & everything they can to avoid regulation & wriggle out of their responsibly for the harm they do to children, young people & others.

A night of fireworks, from beginning to end, as Xhan & Karan, two wonderful students from London South Bank University - LSBU, and I got to watch Crystal Palace F.C. dismantle Man United 4-0.

Wonderful news!!!!

Just 20% of our health is to do with access to primary & acute NHS care. The other 80% relies on our education, income, social & health habits and housing. This week I look forward to giving a keynote speech to NHS leaders on what this means for future strategy & partnerships.

It’s simple: If any government is looking to raise standards in schools it must also invest in children’s and youth work and support families to ensure each and every child is given the best possible start in education and life.

“With social services & the NHS on their knees, we need a transformational reset; one that empowers local charities, grassroots movements & faith groups in a partnership approach to health care.” Listen to my podcast series with a host of expert guests at manifesto.oasisuk.org