INSIDE THE ROOM
YOUTH POWER & CYBERBULLYING
This month, BANG interns attended the Brent Youth Strategy Delivery Group (2025–2028), a gathering of local authorities, community organisations, and youth advocates working together to shape the future for young people across the borough.
Joining the interns was Jennifer Ogole, BANG Founder and CEO.
Held at St. Raphael’s Family Wellbeing Centre, the meeting brought together key stakeholders to discuss the borough’s strategic agenda: empowering every young person in Brent with the opportunities, skills, and support they need, giving them the tools to lead healthy, fulfilling lives and become inspired, responsible members of society.
One of the most thought-provoking conversations of the day centred on cyberbullying. What struck us as interns was just how rapidly this issue is evolving. It is no longer confined to nasty messages on social media; it has evolved into something far more complex with the rise of AI-generated content, deepfakes, and anonymous digital spaces. Young people today face forms of online harassment that didn’t exist even five years ago, making it increasingly difficult for educators, parents, and policymakers to keep pace.
The group agreed that the speed of technological change demands an equally urgent and adaptive response.
The group reflected that cyberbullying is not just a school issue; it follows young people home, into their bedrooms at all hours. As AI tools become more accessible, the potential for misuse grows, and the emotional toll on young people deepens.
This is precisely where local authorities play a vital role. Bodies like Brent Council do not just deliver services; they coordinate, fund, and hold accountable the networks of organisations working with young people every day. They set the strategic direction, allocate resources to frontline wellbeing centres like St. Raphael’s, and bring different sectors to the same table. Without this infrastructure, organisations working in isolation simply cannot create the systemic change young people need.
That is where BANG Edutainment fits in. BANG’s work, using creative media, storytelling, and digital skills to educate and inspire young people, directly complements the local authority agenda.
By equipping young people with media literacy, confidence, and a critical understanding of the digital world, BANG helps build the resilience that makes communities safer. Being present at this meeting was a reminder that the work BANG does is not happening in a vacuum; it is part of a wider, coordinated effort to ensure every young person in Brent can thrive and contribute positively to their community.
As interns, sitting in that room was a masterclass in how community change actually happens—not through a single organisation, but through collaboration, strategy, and a shared belief that young people can lead.
We left St. Raphael’s motivated, informed, and proud to be part of the BANG community.
