This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7560287.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Teenagers rally for positive image Teenagers rally for positive image
(about 5 hours later)
By Debabani Majumdar BBC News, LondonBy Debabani Majumdar BBC News, London
Rene Chance said she puts her energy into danceRene Chance said she puts her energy into dance
In the past few years Rene Chance, 18, has been stabbed twice and arrested three times.In the past few years Rene Chance, 18, has been stabbed twice and arrested three times.
But the teenager, from Cricklewood, north-west London, says she has turned her life around, which she puts down to Youthology - a youth social enterprise which offers activities like dance and music for teenagers throughout the year. But the teenager, from Cricklewood, north-west London, says she has turned her life around thanks to Youthology - a youth social enterprise which offers activities like dance and music for teenagers throughout the year.
And the group also takes part in the Notting Hill Carnival, in west London, where a group of teenagers from some of the most deprived areas of the city put on a show planned and managed by themselves.And the group also takes part in the Notting Hill Carnival, in west London, where a group of teenagers from some of the most deprived areas of the city put on a show planned and managed by themselves.
The youngsters choose the theme, music, dance routines, promote the show and even manage the float on the day alongside a handful of stewards. The youngsters choose the theme, music, dance routines, promote the show and even manage the float on the day alongside a team of professional security and 20 trained stewards.
They have classed the carnival project as high risk because ours is the only float that consists 100% of youth Genevive Dowokpor, Youthology We have got all the top urban artists who play for free for us but no platform for them to perform on Genevive Dowokpor, Youthology
Rene said the group has had helped her to deal with her anger.Rene said the group has had helped her to deal with her anger.
"I have taken my anger from fight into dance," she says."I have taken my anger from fight into dance," she says.
"I believe if I wasn't in this group I would be in juvenile [detention] or jail."I believe if I wasn't in this group I would be in juvenile [detention] or jail.
"It has helped me focus on what I want to achieve.""It has helped me focus on what I want to achieve."
The founder of the group, 27-year-old Genevive Dowokpor, said the teenagers were able to set their own rules.The founder of the group, 27-year-old Genevive Dowokpor, said the teenagers were able to set their own rules.
'Last minute fight''Last minute fight'
"You allow them to set their own rules and be expressive but in a controlled way," she says. "You allow them to set their own rules and be expressive but in a controlled way," which she says helps them cultivate leadership and responsibility.
"We work together as a team but its their show and they understand that.""We work together as a team but its their show and they understand that."
This year the band's theme is Culture Shock which aims to celebrate the cultural identity of every individual.The group's float and events in the carnival are managed by teenagersThis year the band's theme is Culture Shock which aims to celebrate the cultural identity of every individual.The group's float and events in the carnival are managed by teenagers
But the recent spate of gun and knife killings in London, which has claimed the lives of 49 teenagers since 2007, and the accompanying media glare has had a negative impact on obtaining funding for this year's show, Ms Dowokpor said.But the recent spate of gun and knife killings in London, which has claimed the lives of 49 teenagers since 2007, and the accompanying media glare has had a negative impact on obtaining funding for this year's show, Ms Dowokpor said.
In June every year the group begins its preparations for the event, but the 27-year-old founder said they were far from achieving their budget of £11,000 which they need to perform. In June every year the group begins its preparations for the event, but the 27-year-old founder said they were far from achieving their budget of £15,000 which they need to perform.
If the money does not materialise in the next few days "we will be forced to wait until next year", Ms Dowokpor said.If the money does not materialise in the next few days "we will be forced to wait until next year", Ms Dowokpor said.
"The media has picked up something that was already an issue and this has affected the perception of the funders," she said."The media has picked up something that was already an issue and this has affected the perception of the funders," she said.
"They have classed the carnival project as high-risk because ours is the only float that consists 100% of youth. "Last year a funder had labelled the project as high risk and said it was not possible to deliver, because ours is the only float that consists 100% of youth. But we proved them wrong by taking 236 young people to carnival safely to enjoy and achieve!
"Its a last minute fight. We have got all the top urban artists who play for free for us but no platform for them to perform on."Its a last minute fight. We have got all the top urban artists who play for free for us but no platform for them to perform on.
"We have all the icing and candles but no cake."Urban Touch hopes to dissolve "post-code barriers""We have all the icing and candles but no cake."Urban Touch hopes to dissolve "post-code barriers"
Another band working with children from deprived areas to create a showpiece at the carnival is Urban Touch.Another band working with children from deprived areas to create a showpiece at the carnival is Urban Touch.
In its second year at the carnival, Steven Montgomery, the group's founder, said they strive to "break down post-code barriers".In its second year at the carnival, Steven Montgomery, the group's founder, said they strive to "break down post-code barriers".
"We have children coming from all different postcodes and most from Hackney and Islington, probably two of the most deprived areas of London."We have children coming from all different postcodes and most from Hackney and Islington, probably two of the most deprived areas of London.
"Everything you hear about young people is negative. These children come and work together and there are no arguments or problems."Everything you hear about young people is negative. These children come and work together and there are no arguments or problems.
"We have had some children who knew someone killed in the area... we have discussions about it and on issues like friendship, choices you make in life and what are you doing for the community."We have had some children who knew someone killed in the area... we have discussions about it and on issues like friendship, choices you make in life and what are you doing for the community.
"Let's show them something positive you do.""Let's show them something positive you do."