Mohammed Zafran BEM, known as Zaf to many has won another Award in the long list of his illustrious career as a Youth Pioneer.
Zaf, who is the UK Goodwill Ambassador for Youth and Community, has been highly instrumental in helping deprived and vulnerable youths to come away from crime and get back in education and work. Zaf has helped over 36,000 youths in the last few years to engage in community projects with All 4 Youth & Community and with Unite and Uplift Together. Zaf has worked in partnership with Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police and since the COVID outbreak, Zaf has done numerous projects on line with vulnerable youths. Zaf has been active in community work for well over a decade now and is growing from strength to strength.
Zaf has collaborated with user groups from all across the UK such as Smallheath Tigers, West Midlands Police, Audley Primary School, South and City College, London Tigers, Alumrock FC, Warwickshire Cricket League, Sky Sports, BBC News, Liverpool Football Club, West Bromwich Albion FC, BBC WM, London Mayor, West Midlands Mayor and many more. Zaf has won over 35 National and International Honours for helping others, and was honoured by the Queen in 2016 with the British Empire Medal. Zaf was also named in the Parliament Review as the Top 100 List as the Most Powerful and Influential Muslim in the World, accompanied by James Caan, Mohamed Salah and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Zaf has appeared on Sky Sports News for his project, Women In Sport, and has been on BBC News several times talking about youths and knife crime.
Zaf is currently engaging with a lot of Football Clubs to ensure youths are occupied during their half term breaks from education, rather than loitering on the streets. Zaf and his team have successfully delivered Drugs and Awareness Classes, World Cafe Youth Events with the Police, Mental Health Classes, Domestic Abuse Seminars, Youth Mentoring Courses.
Recently appointed as the West Midland’s Chair for Crimestoppers, Zaf believes that he has an excellent platform to aware the public about the importance of speaking up about illegal activities that may happen in their surroundings and reporting it to the organization . In order to promote community cohesion he will be conducting knife crime campaigns at football clubs, mosques, and colleges and will be seen on Sky TV in his own TV show. Zaf is promoting the IGNITE course at the south and city college, which is perfect for at-risk youth who are 19 years old and not in school, working or receiving any kind of training. The two – week programme supports them to get back to school, help them build a resume, supports them during job interviews, and provides them with enrichment activities. Apache Indian, a legend in the local music industry also supports the programme. For students with an interest in music, a career path is also an option.
