Dmitry, a student from Lewisham Deptford, recently spent a week doing work experience with the team. At the end of the week he wrote a blog about his time with us and shared his thoughts on youth violence. 

This one week work experience was a fantastic opportunity for me, I learnt a lot of things and got to take part in many important meetings that Vicky had, it was also inspirational to see all the things Vicky does for Lewisham and Deptford. I’m happy and grateful that I got this experience and would like to thank Vicky and her amazing team for making it so fun and educational for me.

At the start of the week I met Vicky’s amazing team, who without them this week wouldn’t be possible. Caroline, Vicky and I went to Heathrow airport where we went to the control tower and watched planes take off and land, this was a great experience for me because I found it so fascinating that a massive plane can take off so easily. We then went down to the runway where we watched them land up close, Vicky and the tour guide were discussing how the planes are loud and how they need to be made quieter for there to be a third runway open.

Going to the meeting about wheels for wellbeing was great because I now realise the difficulties that disabled people have whilst cycling, for example they can’t buy a normal bike, they have to buy one that cost about £3000 – £8000, this is a ridiculous amount because most disabled people are unable to work and the government only contribute £1000 through the cycle to work scheme which simply isn’t enough. The actions that Vicky is taking is writing a letter to the minister and submitting parliamentary questions.

We went to a trade union meeting which was about how UCU members hasn’t received a decent pay rise since 2014 which was a pay rise of 1%. Their pay has fallen by 24% in the last 9 years which must be hard for them because of inflation, I enjoyed listening to their points and how they would like to resolve the issues. The next day I then wrote a draft letter asking John Docherty to have a meeting with the trade union so they can get the right pay and won’t have to strike.

Vicky and I had a few conversations on youth violence and I enjoyed them because she had some good points and opened my eyes to the importance of it and how families suffer massively when something happens to their child.

The highlight of the week was going to city hall and having a meeting with Sadiq Khan on youth violence, I enjoyed this meeting not only because I got to listen to them discuss youth violence and the cause of it but I got to have a say about drill music and the importance of it to the youth and why drill songs on YouTube should not be deleted. After the meeting, I got to speak to a guy name Tom and we discussed the effects of drill music and how it’s made many people get out of the area they’re   from and made it big worldwide, for example 67. We also discussed how drill musicians make drill for the entertainment of others.

Vicky had a meeting at the Lewisham police station which I couldn’t go into, but a police officer was kind enough to take me to see the police cars and horses, the horses were massive and I enjoyed meeting them.

I had an amazing week which I learnt a lot from, I would like to thank all of Vicky’s amazing team for making this possible for me and I’m glad this opportunity came my way because I really enjoyed it.