How do we tackle overcrowding in our prisons and what are the costs of early release? They are colossal compared with, and far less effective than, investing in early work with children and youth people to create happier, healthier and more constructive childhoods!

The problem of our overcrowded prisons will never be resolved until we ask different questions. The majority of adults in our prisons were first criminalised as teenagers. So what about tackling the school to prison pipeline & thinking about how we break the cycle of reoffending?

“It can't be done, usually means we have stopped trying.” Andy Burnham I love this ethic - when we work together it is extraordinary just how much can be achieved.

Children should be given a clearer pathway into work from the age of 14. Andy Burnham unveils reforms that will allow students to study subjects such as manufacturing & AI alongside core academic learning. At last, the beginning of hope that the hard hat might be valued as much as the academic cap!

What is it that makes some forms of religious belief angry, aggressive and even violent about the LGBTQ+ communities? Standing with the organisers & supporter of the Berlin Pride event, and mourning the loss of yet another innocent life.

I loved the company of, worked alongside & also debated with Ann Widdecombe the years. We were passionate about some of the same issues & at odds over others. I was therefore deeply saddened to hear of her death & now horrified to learn of the nature of it. Rest in peace Ann.

I am excited that Healthy Living Platform is the 24th charity to join Oasis St Martin’s Village in South London. Open each Tuesday, their low-cost food pantry will: + Reduce food shopping bills + Offer a diverse range of fresh & healthy food + Help reduce food waste

Three lions on the shirt!!! 🦁🦁🦁 Three goals at the Azteca!!! ⚽️⚽️⚽️ England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿!!!

Join us for ‘Reimaging Community’, a day exploring the art of local community leadership, entrepreneurship & development. A chance to learn from Oasis’ 40 years of an integrated, holistic approach to education, youth & community work, housing provision, health, youth justice & much more.

The reality of the way our society and education system fail white working-class children is, at last, laid bare by today’s damning report. Society, school & assessment must now focus on the multitude of pathways to opportunity, rather than the old straitjacket of written exams.

At last, it’s coming. A legal ban on all those abusive, repressive & controlling practices which create lasting damage to the wellbeing & mental health of so many wonderful LGBTQ+ people - including the coercion that masquerades as ‘prayer’ & ‘pastoral support’ in some churches.

Excited to be appointed as the government’s Civic Engagement Ambassador for children & young people. Aside from less screen time, we all need opportunities to find belonging, meaning, purpose & fulfillment through getting involved in our local communities. schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-fiv...

Revealed: Five ‘enrichment ambassadors’ chosen by DfE

Oasis academy trust founder Steve Chalke is among five 'enrichment ambassadors' selected by government

schoolsweek.co.uk

It was a joy yesterday to open the Alan Yentob Centre at Oasis St Martin’s Village in South London with Philippa Walker, Alan’s widow. Alan, as the plaque says, was and through his legacy at this centre will remain ’champion of the arts and fighter for children rights.’

I believe Sir Gareth Southgate is right. However, we need to reimagine our whole approach to education to enable all girls as well as all boys to achieve their potential within it. Boys are not ‘a problem’. But many boys ‘have big problems’ with our educational system as it stands.

How do you communicate vision, hold an audience, and speak with confidence and impact? Join me on Thursday June 18th, 10am- 4pm at Oasis St Martin’s Village, Tulse Hill, London. Book your ticket here: academyforhope.co.uk/masterclass

It’s more than a conference. Our goal is to help create a new, compelling national narrative & vision for the justice system in the UK. Great keynote speakers plus interactive workshops, panels & presentations with participating organisations. Join us, make your voice heard & join the conversation!

Winners!!❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙!!!

We will struggle to solve the issue of young people who are not in education, employment or training until we find the courage to overhaul our entire education system including the narrowness of its pedagogy, its assessment system & the misguided nature of its inspection system.

Here’s the text of the story I told for my Pause for Thought on @BBCRadio2 with Revd Kate Bottley and Jason Mohammad this morning - all about Jadon’s dramatic journey from cheating drug dealer to a brilliant youth worker!

It’s a scandal! That’s why we at Oasis UK are working as hard as we can to do our bit to create a new generation of high quality children’s homes filled with love rather than neglect. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Why illegal children's homes are being paid up to £2m per child by councils

A ban was meant to bring an end to the practice - but councils continue to fund illegal placements.

bbc.co.uk

Yesterday the Ministry of Justice unveiled ‘Cutting Youth Crime. Changing Young Lives’- a reform plan for the youth justice system designed to create more and earlier support for children & young people at risk of falling into crime. I really like it, but many parents will need that support too!

From the King’s Speech: “My Government will bring forward…a draft Bill to ban abusive conversion practices.” This time let’s make it count & finally put an end to coercive & repressive practices which create lasting damage to the wellbeing & mental health of so many wonderful LGBT+ people.

Wake Up Dead Man is the latest Knives Out film. Anger, greed & murder have crept into Our Lady of Fortitude parish church. But this gripping story is one that poses big questions for our society as a whole. Here’s my interview for the God in Film podcast. open.spotify.com/episode/7C1g...

Wake Up Dead Man - What is Christian Nationalism?

open.spotify.com

Following the wave of recent attacks on Jews in the UK, I was pleased to sign the open letter published today in support of the Jewish community with many other religious and business leaders. “This is not a problem for Jewish people to have to respond to. This is a problem for all of us to fix.”

“I’ve never had an idea that was unique or original to me. I listen, I learn, and over time the pieces form a picture - that’s how you make things happen.” Listen here to my Jazz Shapers interview from last Saturday with Elliot Moss on Jazz FM. www.radio-uk.co.uk/podcasts/jaz...

Jazz Shapers

Listen to Jazz Shapers podcast by Bauer Media. The best podcasts in the UK.

radio-uk.co.uk

What lonely, susceptible, vulnerable people at risk of radicalisation need isn’t PREVENT. It’s community, belonging, activity & friendship. So it’s time to invest in the wonderful small grassroots groups working in every community that are continually bypassed by big government.

Here’s a conversation I had about my great friend & mentor Dr. Tony Campolo. Professor of Eastern University in Philadelphia, sociologist, theologian, communicator, social justice activist & leader. I hope you’re as inspired by him as I have been. open.spotify.com/episode/1vtx...

A Conversation with Steve Chalke - Justice and Faith and Tony Campolo

open.spotify.com

Oasis Restore, the first Secure School is a new model of care for 12-18 yr-olds in custody for violent crime; enabling them to come to terms with their behaviour and to live different future lives. We’re looking for a new Principal. Interested? Register here: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/BnueUgRJ3Y

Resisting with Joy! Here’s a taster of the latest Different Podcast from Jill Rowe and me. It’s Episode 62, and it’s available wherever you get your podcasts from.