Jake Bonsall

Since 1995 when he was just 11, Jake Bonsall has volunteered on Manor estate, supporting young people and acting as an exceptional role model, mentor and educator to his peers. Inspired to challenge antisocial youth culture, he has amazingly turned around the community he lives in and created a positive and cooperative environment.

The catalyst for Jake's community activism was the negative perceptions that were associated with the Manor estate in Sheffield and his own family history. With an older brother constantly in trouble with the police, Jake saw the stress and repercussions of antisocial behaviour on his own family. Wanting there to be an alternative to joyriding and drugs, he got involved to change things on the estate for other young people. He reached out to his peers and engaged them in social education programmes.

With the support of his local youth worker Donna Jones, by the age of 13 Jake was organising activities for groups of children as young as 9 and had produced a film on the perils of joy-riding, which he then went on to present at local schools. Having trained around 40 senior (13 and older) members to become community leaders and volunteers, and having worked with many more, Jake knows almost all the 2000 young people on Manor. His work has changed the perceptions of Manor, once seen as the worst estate in Britain, interested the local and national press, and raised the profile of young people in Sheffield.

His work and achievements have spread throughout the estate and young people are now eager to set up or join groups rather than be drawn into bad behaviour. His work has involved: a Manor Kickers Youth Group for 11-13 year; play schemes for 'at risk' 8-11 year olds; a mental health programme for young people; training programmes for volunteers; literacy enhancement programmes and an environmental and inter-generational project with adult residents. With a peer education drug group, Jake has recently created an alternative game of Snakes and Ladders, that deals with the issues surrounding drugs and has won a drugs education award in Russia.

Jake is now 21 years old and his work on Manor has enabled residents and parents to be proud of their community and given young people hope.

"I have known of no other young person with the level of determination, commitment and foresight of Jake. He is a role model for young people locally and within his community. His achievements and awards are phenomenal and have truly played a part in redefining the culture of young people on the Manor estates."

Wendy Bolton, Project Worker

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