Award-winning community youth organisation, Fridays Coventry CIC, has announced a restructure and the appointment of its new leadership.
Coventry entrepreneur and Fridays' Founder Tyler Campbell, 23, will step back from day-to-day activities, to focus on new business consultancy and property investment venture, High Value Consultancy Ltd. Fellow-Coventry entrepreneurs, Dwain and Nyasha Daley (left and right in pic) have been appointed as Co-CEOs, with a wide remit to build on Fridays’ original vision and foundation.
Commenting on the restructure, Tyler (centre of pic) said: “Fridays Coventry will always be my baby; I couldn’t have created it without the fantastic help and support I’ve had from some amazing people, especially from my amazing Mum, Trish Adudu and, also, the Princes’ Trust.
“I’m thankful for all the amazing supporters and volunteers who believed in Fridays, and helped us create safe, creative spaces for children and young people in the community. I have full confidence that my newly appointed CEOs will take Fridays to the next level, fulfilling the vision and empowering even more young people.
“I will always have a passion for the work that Fridays does; it has been an amazing journey. This restructure means that I have the space and time I need to focus on my passion for property investment and deal sourcing.
“I’m excited about the next stage of my entrepreneurial career and the next chapter for Fridays’ too.” Fridays Coventry CIC was established in 2019 to reduce knife crime, anti-social behaviour, and gang violence.
Campbell set up the organisation after reflecting on his own run-ins with petty crime and subsequently, West Midlands Police. He wanted to provide safe, secure outlets for young people, which resulted in youth-led, youth-focused, Friday night youth clubs.
Fridays' focus on empowerment, talent and skills development, community engagement, self-care and well-being, has won the CIC several awards, including the prestigious National CrimeBeat Award in 2022. With the help of a small army of volunteers, Fridays has delivered youth clubs, employability programmes, sports projects, radio shows, arts initiatives, interactive social media and digital self-development tools for more than 7,500 children and young people in and around Coventry, over the last 5 years.
The CIC even attracted the attention of Olajide Olayinka Williams "JJ" Olatunji, social media influencer, professional boxer, and musician, KSI, who praised Fridays for their work with young people, giving its Christmas £1 Panto a shout-out to his 8million+ X followers. Fridays has attempted a World Record with a BBC Children In Need rappathon at the Albany Theatre, performed at B2 at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre, helped offer horse-riding lessons to young people at inner city community centres and helped Coventry save more than 360,000 gallons of water through its Queen’s Platinum Jubilee-funded Drop the Denim denim recycling project.
Fridays Coventry CIC, whose patrons are Chair of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra David Burbidge CBE DL, and 2 Tone legends Neville Staple and Christine 'Sugary' Staple, will celebrate its five-year anniversary in September 2024. Commenting on their appointments, Dwain Daley said: “We’re excited to take the reins of Fridays and to help deliver on the original vision.
“Friday’s focus areas are subjects close to my heart; like Tyler, I found myself involved in nefarious activities whilst growing up in Birmingham and the Black Country. I was fortunate enough to have grown up at a time when youth clubs and community youth workers were still widespread.
“Not only did I benefit from working with a Youth worker, but I was also inspired to then train and become one myself. From there, I was able to identify transferable skills which I used to move into a business development career and then as an entrepreneur.
“So, I know how important youth-focused provisions, especially ones that are youth-led and informed like Fridays, really are.” Husband and wife team, Dwain and Nyasha, jointly run Varyah Ltd (executive coaching and communications consultancy) and Weusi Ltd (arts production not-for-profit).
Nyasha Daley added: “I was privileged to be part of the Fridays’ team in 2019, volunteering on youth club nights, as well as writing governance documents and developing strategy with its youth leadership; so, Fridays has a very special place in my heart.
“We're looking forward to working with Tyler and the Board to deliver on Fridays' mission. We're especially focused on ensuring that we retain and centre the youth voice that makes Fridays so special and impactful."
According to the Office of National Statistics, the West Midlands has the highest rate of knife crime offences per 100,000 of the population. West Midlands Police reported 5,234 knife crime offences in 2023, equating to 180 knife crimes per 100,000 of the population (an increase of from 167 knife crimes per 100,000 in 2022).
