eVolution

After an interview with the Times, a schoolgate surgery at Gossey Lane School and my weekly street survey out in Tile Cross, I got the chance tonight to drop by and see one ofthe community groups that has inspired me most – eVolution, based in the Pelham in Washwood Heath.

I talk about them all the time. Starting with after school football clubs at Leigh Rd School, Basharat Dad has built the organisation into a group running youth services, training, and now getting people back into work. What was fascinating was talking to youngsters whose confidence and self esteem have been transformed by working through eVolutions year long youth programme. Yet they have a tough time getting funds and contracts to do what they do – despite being so much better at it than anyone else.

It is partly their inspiration that drove me to push to create a Social Investment Wholesale Bank. But we need to widen far further the role groups like eVolution play in delivering services in communities like mine.