LAMBETH: Shot youth worker's family try to steer kids from crime (From This Is Local London)

LAMBETH: Shot youth worker's family try to steer kids from crime

8:14am Tuesday 2nd September 2008 in

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Family and friends of a talented Lambeth youth worker and sportsman who was shot dead last year have set up a project to help turn young people away from violent crime.

Innocent Nathan Foster, 18, was gunned down by former Streatham Hill resident Junior Glasgow,17, while hanging out with friends in Brixton on August 3 last year.

The dad-of-one had himself benefited from youth projects, spending time at Lambeth Council’s award winning anti-gang project X-it and becoming a talented horserider through Lambeth charity the Ebony Horse Club.

Now his sister Shannel Foster, and other young people from the estate where Nathan lived, have set up Street Platinum along with the council to offer positive sporting activities to prevent young people from getting involved in gun and knife crime.

Member Joseph Wilson, 21, said the project’s aim was to empower people through positive choices.

He added: “We want to say to young people that we’re just like you and there are other avenues to take than violence. We want to try to make a crooked path straight.”

Nathan, who was tipped to become a professional horserider, had through his sporting successes become a role model for youngsters seeking to avoid inner city violence.

At the time of his death he was also helping out in his spare time at the horse club and working at one of the borough’s charity’s Kids’ City.

One of Street Platinum’s first projects was to present a special fair play award celebrating teamwork to a team taking part in this year’s Lambeth World Cup.

The award was made at the finals of the six-a-side football tournament organised by Lambeth Council at Fulham’s Motspur Park training ground on August 31.

Shannel Foster, 21, said: “The award is in memory of Nathan and other young people who have passed away in Lambeth.”

Junior Glasgow is currently serving a minimum of 21 years in prison after he was sentenced for murder at the Old Bailey on June 6 this year.

For more information on the project visit lambeth.gov.uk.