Passing the Baton

Aim: A grassroots movement in Lambeth empowering young people to build trust and reduce tension with the police, led by Michael Groce.

🏃‍♂️ Pass the Baton: From Conflict to Connection

🔥 A project by Michael Groce

Lambeth community worker | Youth advocate | Former headline-maker, now a bridge-builder

🧭 Our Mission

Too many young people only meet the police when something’s gone wrong.

Pass the Baton flips that script.
We bring young people and officers together in real-time, face-to-face conversations to challenge fear, change mindsets, and build trust.

This isn’t a lecture. It’s a dialogue. Led by people with lived experience, grounded in the realities of our streets, and shaped by what young people want to know but don’t know how to ask.

“Pass the Baton: Real Talk. Safer Streets.”

💬 Why This Matters (Testimonial)

“I didn’t trust them. They didn’t trust me. But in that room, we both listened. And I left feeling... different.”
— Tyrese, 17, workshop participant

“If this existed 10 years ago, my brother might still be here.”
— Community mentor, Lambeth

🛠️ How It Works

We deliver:

• ⚖️ Interactive legal-rights workshops
• 🧑🏾‍🤝‍🧑🏽 Peer mentoring by trained young adults with lived experience
• 🎭 Real-life scenario sessions — what happens when you're stopped? What are your rights?
• 🎙️ Police listening panels — officers hear, not just speak
• 📘 A "Know Your Rights" pack for every attendee
  
  

All hosted in community spaces, schools, PRUs, and youth centres.

🎯 What We’re Funding

We need to raise £11,000 to launch the next phase across 3 London boroughs.

What Why Cost

🏠 10 Workshop Sessions Venue hire, facilitators, materials  £3,000

🤝 Train 5 Peer Mentors Leadership, safeguarding, and delivery  £2,000

📕 Toolkit PacksFor 100+ young people  £1,500

💻 Digital Platform wider access  £1,000

📊 Evaluation + ReportingMeasure impact + grow  £1,500

📋 Admin SupportLogistics & session delivery  £2,000

🎁 Rewards for Your Support

Tier Reward

£ 5 Thank-you shout-out online

£15 Exclusive behind-the-scenes video

£30 Digital “Know Your Rights” booklet

£50Supporter wristband + wall of thanks

£ 100 Printed certificate + feature on donor roll

£250+ Invitation to a live showcase event

💡 https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/passing-the-baton

Youth trust in policing is at an all-time low.
Police are overwhelmed. Communities are hurting.

But in every session we’ve run, we’ve seen the same thing:

"Once they talk, the wall cracks."

We don’t need more headlines. We need more conversations.
And we need you to help us make them happen.

💙 Join Us

Your support helps us:

• Keep youth out of the system
• Humanise both sides
• Build a model others can follow

📢 This is not just another project.

This is restorative justice in real time.
This is community safety, rebuilt from the inside out.

Will you back us and pass the Baton?

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 20th July 2025 at 2:58pm