For services to young people Carol’s work as earned him the Medal of the British Empire (BEM) and is featured on the King Charles III’s Birthday Honours list.
Join us in celebrating the incredible contributions of Carol Bent, who for 40 years has and continues to act as a inspirational leader, motivator and father-figure for generations of young people in Queen’s Park ward of North Westminster, and in particular, the member of The Avenues Youth Project.
As well as countless other achievements, Carol persuaded The Avenues Youth Project Trustees to create a new building on the same site with state-of-the-art facilities. After a long but successful fundraising campaign, the new Avenues centre was officially opened in 2003 by then HRH Prince Charles. Carol told HRH that “In addition to activities we offer a wide programme of social skills and sessions on such things as drug use, teenage sex and black-on-black violence.
King Charles III meets The Legend – 2003
Carol also started a community radio station, AvenuesFM, which was run by the young people who played requests, had phone-ins, interviewed local people (including MP Karen Buck) and hosted discussions on topics of interest which they chose. It was a powerful and motivating tool which engaged many hard-to-reach young people and taught them many skills
Aged 70, Carol no longer does face-to-face youth work (he says he is “too old”) but still works in the office at The Avenues and keeps in touch with the children and grandchildren of former members.
Carol said “I accept this on behalf of all the young people that I work with, and all of the people over the years that have nominated me. Hopefully I’ve made them all very proud”
Congratulations to our very own living legend Carol Bent (BEM)
See the full King Charles III Birthday honourees list here.
All photos featured were taken by internationally renowned photographer and chair of The Southbank Centre, Misan Harriman on a visit to The Avenues Youth Project.
