NORTHENDZ No2

The Butterfly Effect

the life changing power of volunteering

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The butterfly effect is a scientific theory involving enough equations to put your Maths teacher into a coma. It’s the idea that a butterfly flapping its wings on one side of the world could, in theory, cause a hurricane thousands of miles away.

So when we talk about butterfly effects ourselves, we mean how little random things we choose to do (or choose not to do) can cause much bigger things to happen in other places to other people – most of the time without us realising. You might even say that every day, we change the world without knowing it!

There’s even a film called The Butterfly Effect starring Ashton Kutcher. The character has the ability to time travel and change mistakes he’s made in the past. However each change he makes has a massive impact on the people around him.

This edition of Northendz looks at real life examples of butterfly effects involving young people in your area – including me: I recently caused a butterfly effect that left me feeling guilty – you can read about it on the next page. I think I made the wrong decision, but the other articles prove that a lot of young people are making inspiring choices every day.

As you read through the articles think about what you would have done in a similar situation? How are your decisions and actions having a butterfly effect? NMartin Doyle, Editor

EditorialWhat is the ‘butterfly effect’?

Jermaine HaughtonWriter

Duane UbaIllustrator

Nnenna Ohounnuvinvolved

Martin DoyleEditor

Shaz HussainWriter and Photographer

Gary FlavellExposure

Luke PantelidouExposure

Luke WatkeysDesign Editor

Louise Mousseauvinvolved

Rose HillWriter

Andy SaundersWriter

Northendz Team

Become a better person. Volunteer. Contact Vinvolved on 020 7843 4291 or visit www.vinspired.com02

Sometimes it’s the things you don’t do in life that have the biggest effect. Walking home from work, minding my own business, I heard a yell. Across the busy street, in rush hour, two guys were robbing a commuter of his bike. One held his arms while the other wrenched the bike away from his flailing feet. The victim was struggling bravely and calling for

help to the crowd passing just a few feet away. A few turned their heads, but I was the only one that slowed down even a little.

I felt as if I was watching an episode of The Bill – a surreal holographic version of a TV show rather than experiencing real life. Feeling like a redundant extra, I made a conscious decision to do nothing but drift silently away, and eventually the scene vanished from my periphery.

With every step I took the guilt kicked in harder and harder, like punches to the stomach. My conscience screamed. What happened to him? I assume they took the bike, but what if they’d

hurt him? Would anyone go to his aid? Or would they walk away like I did? How far away did he live, could he get home? What did losing the bike mean to him? I cycle to work; if someone stole my bike I wouldn’t be able to replace it, plus I’d have to start paying for the tube. My lack of action would have repercussions that I would never see.

But the greater question was why did I walk away? Fear perhaps, but there were so many people around that we could have easily formed a vigilante posse and confronted them. They could have had knives, I reasoned, but somehow that didn’t seem to be a good enough exscuse to do nothing.

I’d never felt like less of a man; I had to try to make amends. After a long search, I came across a policewoman and told her what had happened. “I’m sure someone has reported it already,” she replied nonchalantly, and wandered off.

I couldn’t believe it. Her casualness just made me question it all even more. Surely it’s wrong for us to do nothing in this sort of situation? Should we put our safety before our duty to help others? Is it selfishness that leads us away? Are we too afraid? Or do we just not care? N

Walk on byMartin Doyle – inaction speaks louder than words...

03

“I made a conscious decision to

do nothing but drift silently away”

From a young age I threw myself into many different sports: I loved the competitiveness, the camaraderie and the pride I felt, as my abilities and techniques improved. I enjoyed Judo the most.

My local club played a huge part in my young life; I made many friends along the way and ulti-mately became a successful Judoka. I competed in national and international competitions, all with the support, tuition and coaching of the people at the club. It was more than just a place to come and learn a sport; it was a community where people of all ages and backgrounds were brought together by a mutual passion. It was largely due to my positive experiences as a youngster that I was eager to coach young people.

It is not always appreciated that most coaches

at small sports clubs give up their time voluntarily. It’s out of love for the sport and a desire to pass on skills and knowledge to a new generation. I find it incredibly rewarding to see a child that I have coached develop, improve their technique, and go on to succeed in competitions, all the while having fun and enjoying their sport. It feels great to know that I am continuing a chain: passing on those skills taught to me and hopefully inspiring others to progress.

In order to make such sporting communities thrive, they need the help of all sorts of volunteers. From the coaches themselves to someone running the tuck shop. Without these people many small sporting clubs would not exist. In my experience, the rewards are great. It feels fantastic to give back to the sport that I love.

It’s also a fantastic asset to have on a CV. In a recent job interview my voluntary judo work was spotted, and the question gave me an opportunity to present myself not just as a potential employee, but also as a person. I am convinced that it was the volunteering that made the difference between getting the job, and going home with nothing! N

“I am continuing a chain:

passing on those skills taught

to me and hopefully inspiring

others to progress”

Judo what I mean?Andy Saunders throws young people forward...

Become a better person. Volunteer. Contact Vinvolved on 020 7843 4291 or visit www.vinspired.com04

Heart racing, palms sweaty, the screaming crowd below him became a blur. When Seb agreed to help a friend, he never thought he would end up here, feeling like this.

Three weeks earlier, Seb volunteered to play

bass at his mate’s next gig. Hours of hard work were spent rehearsing in time for the band’ perform-ance. But as the gig approached Seb’s selfless act of goodwill had suddenly delivered a serious dose of stage fright. He couldn’t quit now though, the band needed him.

Little did Seb realise, his altruistic behaviour wasn’t entirely selfless. Getting up on stage, Seb wanted the world to swallow him up, but as soon

as he struck that first note and felt that rumbling bass line vibrating through the floor, he felt alive.

We’ve all given up our time to help someone out, but sometimes doing a good deed can seem pointless and tiresome. The cost of being selfless may, at first, appear not to benefit you at all, but just like Seb, things can work out to your advantage. Good deeds have a butterfly effect and often end up benefiting more than one person.

Seb’s story is proof of this: his actions benefited his friends in the band and in turn rebounded back to him; he’s since become the band’s full time front man. Seb saw his talent and act of goodwill snowball into a whole plethora of opportunities. The same could be said for any good deed. If you have talent, think about how you could put them to use to benefit your friends, the public and in turn yourself. N

Must be the musicShaz Hussain witnesses the butterfly effect chrysalise

“As soon as he struck that first

note he felt alive”

05

Imagine. You’re alone on a desolate street, cobbles underneath rubber soles as your hands are shoved into rough pockets. Harsh wind whips against your face as your eyes squint amidst the bitter cold, teeth nipping your bottom lip lightly. You wish you’d brought a warmer coat.

Then you hear a not-so-distant clatter; a ruffling of clothes and a thump as something hits the floor. A car speeding off. A body lies splayed on the ground hidden beneath reams of clothing. Quick, shallow breaths tear themselves from the body’s lungs. It shudders and gasps as you float, fixated, towards it.

What can you do? Kneel down, dig out your mobile with sweaty fingers and call 999. What next?

It’s a man. His eyes are scrunched closed in pain, his face turns an assortment of colours. You glance around, but no one’s there; you can’t leave him to look for help. It’s just you. You place a hand on his arm, not quite sure what’s happening, nor what to do next. Hysteria bubbles in the pit of your chest, but you keep it down. You can’t panic, not at a time like this. You just try to focus. Breathe. Just try to breathe.

But he seems to be getting worse. Palpita-tions increase as your heart thunders in your chest. You try to squeeze his arm lightly with your finger-tips in order to soothe him: it doesn’t work.

His breathing becomes flatter; short gasps of

air, as you stare on helplessly. Terms float around your head, but you don’t know how to unscramble them all: CPR, recovery position, ABC, Heart attack, angina. Vague lessons in PSHE class spiral from your brain.

But what can you do?

A deadly sense of calm prevails, that false sense of security, as dread floods your body, eyes wide with both disbelief and horror. Your insides churn as the background noise of the ambulance becomes louder. You ignore the red and blue assaulting your vision as you continue to stare at the lifeless body before you. Is it too late?

Stop. Refresh. Back to the start. A simple thing like an emergency first aid

course could change everything. It can dissipate feelings of helplessness and reinstate hope, but not just for you, for others around you. Just a few days, hours, minutes… even seconds of your time could change the biggest problems into the smallest things if you make the right decision. That’s what you can do. Imagine. N

HelplessRose Hill imagines saving a life

@#§¡?

Become a better person. Volunteer. Contact Vinvolved on 020 7843 4291 or visit www.vinspired.com06

“ Your insides churn as the back-

ground noise of the ambulance

becomes louder”

Running late for a job interview I was not expecting or hoping to be rescuing a damsel in distress, but it happened. Dashing out of Kings Cross Station I was faced with a sobbing middle-aged woman. I knew stopping would make me even later, but I couldn’t just ignore a stranger in need.

I later came to understand that the animated, yet chic, lady was one part of a French circus group touring in the West End. I was never great at French at school, but I attempted to form coherent and well pronounced questions to find out what was wrong.

Having wandered out from her hotel earlier that day, she went for a stroll and lost both track of time and her bearings. With no money on her Oyster card, her mobile phone battery drained, and with barely £1 in her purse, she was stranded during the dreaded London rush hour. Under-standably, she just wanted to go back to the comfort of her hotel and friends.

Armed with only a pen and paper plus a few

common French phrases, I slowly explained how she could get back in the easiest possible way. Digging in to my pocket, I found a note…my last

£5! Part of me was anxious about parting with my money but the obligation to help her was over-whelming. With a peck on the cheek and floods of ‘merci beaucoup’ she ventured off on her journey home delighted.

Despite being left out of pocket and risking a job by being late for my interview, I felt a sense of achievement and pride in my moment of heroism. She was a complete stranger, but imagine what would have happened to her had I been selfish? I only used a few lines I’d learnt in school and donated a fiver, but sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference. N

French connectionJermaine Haughton saves the day!

07

“I couldn’t just ignore a

stranger in need”

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