Jamal Edwards trust to open creative careers hub

"It's bittersweet, but it's amazing to be able to continue Jamal's legacy. I know he would be so proud. Talk is cheap, but action can make change, to support these young people and build them up in the community. It's about putting back into the community as much as we can."

"The Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust was set up by his family after his death in 2022. In 2024 the trust launched a programme designed to help 18 to 31 year olds with employability skills, offering paid internships and masterclasses. The scheme has already seen success, with several of its young people finding paid employment in the creative industry."

"Built on the same housing estate in Acton where Jamal grew up and recorded his earliest SBTV content, the centre will have a co-working spaces and a subsidised kitchen to provide daily hot meals. There will also be co-working spaces and a recording studio. The centre will be funded by partnerships with creative companies."

The Self-Belief Community Hub, opening in Acton this summer, supports 31 young adults through the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust established after the SBTV founder's death in 2022. Located on the estate where Jamal grew up, the hub provides co-working spaces, a recording studio, subsidised meals, and employment support. The trust's 2024 programme offers paid internships and masterclasses, with participants already securing creative industry positions. Funded through partnerships with creative companies, the hub addresses disparities where working-class youth are four times less likely to pursue artistic careers than middle-class peers. Brenda Edwards, Jamal's mother and trust founder, emphasizes community action and investment in young people's development.

Read at www.bbc.com