While the credit crisis and youth-on-youth violence remain front-page news, College students are learning alternative and positive approaches to managing their lives.  College students have been developing financial know-how through MyBnk, a scheme that helps to develop their skills through the creation of a bank run by and for students. The scheme includes money management workshops and high-powered
networking events, but also encourages enterprise by offering the possibility of interest-free loans (vetted
by students) for College business ventures.

MyBnk founder and managing director Lily Lapenna (who received the New Statesman Edge Upstarts
Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2008), said: ‘Working with City of Westminster College students has been enriching. Their energy, commitment and enthusiasm in setting up and running their own bank has been contagious.’  Staying safe on the streets is another highly topical issue and students are being taught the fundamentals of personal safety and conflict awareness through programmes run by College staff and training organisation The Safety Box. Training tackles issues such as bullying and fear of gun and knife crime and is designed to enable College learners to spot and diffuse conflict.

The Safety Box managing director Nathaniel Peat (who was Social and Community winner of 2007’s
Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brits awards) said: ‘We are teaching self-worth, building confidence and – most of all – taking away the fear of violent crime.’