£1.5m London youth safety fund backs Godwin Lawson football tournament

A football tournament held each summer in Enfield to remember Godwin Lawson, a 17-year-old stabbed in Stamford Hill in 2010, will share in a £1.5 million funding boost for youth safety activities across London. The money was announced by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on 29 July 2024.

Godwin Lawson, who lived in Enfield and played at academy level, died after intervening in an attack on his friends in March 2010. Moise Avorgah, then 20 and from Tottenham, was convicted of his murder in February 2011.

Tournament links sport to safety

The Godwin Lawson Foundation, set up by his mother Yvonne Lawson, organises the annual tournament with Tottenham Hotspur Community Foundation. About 150 young players from across the country take part in matches and workshops on staying safe.

Yvonne Lawson told the BBC the event is “more than just kicking a ball”. She said it reflects how young people can keep themselves safe. Football was a central part of her son’s life, she added, and the discipline it taught him helped shape his character.

Deron Jayden, who once played in the tournament and now volunteers, said activities like these are important in London. They provide safe spaces where young people can connect with trusted adults and each other, he told the BBC.

Funding expands summer safety programme

The £1.5 million announced by Khan will support hundreds of activities across London this summer. The money comes from the Violence Reduction Unit, in partnership with the Premier League and 11 professional London football club charities.

Lib Peck, from the Violence Reduction Unit, said the priority is ensuring young people have safe places to go. These should offer connections with youth workers and opportunities to socialise with peers, she said.

The partnership with the Premier League and club charities is set to continue for a year. It aims to provide structured activities during school holidays and beyond, according to City Hall.

What happens next

The summer programme runs until the end of August 2024. Residents can find details of local activities through the Violence Reduction Unit’s website or their borough council’s youth services. The Godwin Lawson Foundation’s tournament is expected to take place in late August, though the exact date is not yet confirmed.