Welcome To The BTWSC Website
About Us
developing potential... raising aspirations... promoting social inclusion...
youth projects + music business courses + event planning courses + family & community cohesion projects + creative writing + debates/discussion sessions + Qué Pasa? newsletter + life/social skills + positive activities for young people + songwriting & music technology projects + UseYourHead.Org.uk youth drama group + Dads & Lads/Parents & Children projects + Black S/Heroes Award + Welcome To Harlesbridge community market & reasoning sessions + Ayekoo networking sessions + African/black history programming
Our Organisation & Key Workers:
BTWSC is a Brent-based, pan-London not-for-profit voluntary organisation.
The organisation uses the creative arts to develop the potential of youth and adults. It is also engaged in raising aspirations and promoting social inclusion. BTWSC's core projects are centred around music industry, event planning, and music technology courses; writing workshops and writing competitions; ceremonies recognising unsung people; and family and community cohesion projects.
BTWSC is an approved provider of OCN Credit4Learning, which allows us to deliver accredited courses from our own portfolio (Event Planning, Music Industry Overview, Training For Trainers, and African History Overview) or subjects required by our clients.
Its projects are aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at people from socially disadvantaged or excluded backgrounds or areas.
Because of its client base, BTWSC runs mostly free programmes, which are either fully or partially funded (funders are listed by their projects). It is also keen to work in partnership with schools, and statutory, voluntary and commercial organisations. It can also be commissioned to provide bespoke programmes, which are undertaken by highly experience professionals in the fields of positive activities for youths, creative writing, music, event planning, PR and media, music business and law, entrepreurship, and African/black history.
BTWSC was co-founded in April 2002 by its co-ordinator, Ms Serwah, FRSA, a Ghanaian-born barrister, social activist, and a Brent Citizenship Award 2007 winner, after she successfully completed a CEMVO Millennium Award project called Beyond The Will Smith Challenge.
The organisation's name is an acronym taken from the initials of Ms Serwah's first project: the 'Beyond The Will Smith Challenge' competition. Young people were encouraged to write poems, songs or short articles, which had to be uplifting and devoid of foul language. Will Smith is an American superstar actor and rap artist. He once challenged fellow rap artists to come up with hit songs without using offensive language. The winning entries are published in the Beyond The Will Smith Challenge book (ISBN 0-9544492-0-7).
BTWSC is interested in the dissemination of information. It therefore publishes documents on many of its projects, and is also interested in highlighting sources of information which may be of interest to its stakeholders. BTWSC is also about social change and challenging issues, be it through letters, open letters, writing to the media, discussion groups/seminars, or partnering individuals or organisations who share the same kind of ethos - one built on self empowerment, upliftment, enlightenment, and positivity.
Currently, the organisation has no core funding. It works on a project by project basis. It is run by one part-time paid staff and one adult volunteer worker, who are ably supported, as and when required, by a team of youth and adult volunteers.
The organisation is headed by a management committee whose experience span business, education, media, publishing and the music industry. The key staff are police checked and have Connexions qualifications (see below for more on key workers).
For further information, please contact the co-ordinator: Ms Serwah, info@btwsc.com, 020 8450 5987.
What is BTWSC?
BTWSC is a pan-London voluntary organisation that uses the creative arts to raise aspirations and promote social inclusion. The organisation also provides pathways to further education or employment within the music and entertainment industries. BTWSC’s programmes are aimed at young people and adults. The organisation has a bias towards working with minorities, socially excluded persons, and disadvantaged groups.
BTWSC has the CEMVO/University of East London's Verification of Capacity Building certificate.
When was it formed?
April 2002, after the success of the Beyond The Will Smith Challenge writing competition and publication of BTWSC book ISBN 0-9544492-0-7, a CEMVO Millennium Awards project.
What has it done?
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Newham Youth Spotlight 2003 ceremony and newsletter recognising unsung BME youths
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Brent Youth Spotlight 2005, 2006 ceremony and newsletter recognising unsung BME youths
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Music industry courses for unemployed persons in Brent, Haringey and Lambeth
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One-day intensive music business courses for women in Newham, Brent, Haringey, and Lambeth
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Volunteer reading programme in a Brent primary school
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Contribution to debates on youth issues on BBC Radio 3, conferences in London and Nottingham
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Managed the North London Voluntary Sector volunteer programme
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Publisher of ‘Qué Pasa?’, a youth issues newsletter
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After-school music and media projects in Harrow and Brent
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Welcome To Harlesbridge inter-generational activities in Harlesden, Brent
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Music industry courses for 16-19 year old NEET (not in education, employment or training) in Harrow, Brent and Newham
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Dads & Lads project in Harrow
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Parents & Children project with Harrow Wider Family Learning Programme
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Black History Month activities in Harrow and Brent
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One day music industry workshop and artist showcase in Harrow, Brent, Newham and Hackney
- YMCA Dads & Lads, and Parenting resources development
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Anti-drug project for Brent youths
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UseYourHead.Org.uk, a youth drama group tackling social issues
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Brent Black Archive Research Group
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Lifefm.org.uk Businessofmusic/Mixed Bag Show
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Because… youth crime project
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ASET Event Planning accredited courses in Haringey and Brent
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Non-accredited event planning training for voluntary organisations
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Brent Black Music History Project DVD and booklet
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Who Am I & What I Do speed-networking events at Willesden Green Library Centre
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Co-sponsor of Black Music Congress debates
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Black S/Heroes Award
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The Prof. Allotey Science Prize
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Ayekoo Networking Sessions
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London Week Of Peace events
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Roots To Branches edutainment concerts
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NARM (Naming And Role Model) Project
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Panels & Steering Committees
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Genesis Housing Group panel
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Harrow Black History Month Forum
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London Museum Diversity website steering group
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Harrow Raising Achievement Group
- Designing and facilitating community & voluntary organisation workshops for CVS
- Delivering black history month programmes for unions and London boroughs
- OCN Training Provider (own courses include: Level 2 Event Planning, Music Industry Overview, Training For Trainers, and African History Overview)
- Brent Culture, Sport And Learning Forum member
- It's Cool To... Recycle
- It's Cool To... Care About The Environment
Management Committee
Drawn from fields of education, business, and the media and music industries.
Membership
Harrow Voluntary Service (HAVS), Brent Youth & Community Service Council, North London Voluntary Sector Forum (NLVSF), Brent Association for Voluntary Action (BrAVA), Vontary Action Camden (VAC), Council For Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO) partner.
Key workers
Ms Serwah (co-ordinator) and Kwaku (chair) are police checked and have completed APIR, Introducing Connexions and Understanding Connexions modules, and GOALS training. Ms Serwah holds an Introduction To Crime And Disorder Reduction certificate.
Course/project designer/tutor
Kwaku is an NVQ assessor, tutor, journalist, music and media industry consultant and facilitator, music industry lecturer at Collage Arts, and former lecturer at City & Islington College, City University London, and University Of Westminster’s music industry BA and MA music industry courses. Key tutor of BTWSC's courses, including the OCN Level 2 Event Planning, Music Industry Overview, and African History Overview. He’s the founder of the Black Music Congress, holds MA degrees in Media, and Music Business Management, and LLM in Entertainment Law. He has organised, chaired and/or sat on numerous seminars and debates.
Co-ordinator
Ms Serwah is a barrister, a multi-linguist and a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts (RSA). A former Swedish Consular officer, her volunteering work has included work with a Brent primary and a Barnet supplementary school. She has attended the Home Office-funded Introduction to Crime and Disorder Reduction course, and has sat on numerous youth and grants panels. Recipient of Brent Citizenship Award 2007. She was appointed a notary public in 2010.
Funders
London East Connexions, FastForward Grants, Living/Learning Grants, Awards For All, North West London Local Network Fund, YMCA, Brent Community Chest, Neighbourhood Renewal For Harlesden and Stonebridge, London West Connexions, Brent Community Safety Chest, OneLondon, Edward Harvist, Harrow Council, Harrow Wider Family Learning Programme, Peace Alliance, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund, FairShare/NWLCF, Groundwork London, and Brent/Harlesden Neighbourhood Working.
Last revised August 2010
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