John was born and raised in Islington and has both lived and worked here for over 50 years! Married to Carol they have between them four children and two grandsons. In 1986 John joined Scripture Union as a schools worker covering schools in Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets and the City of London. Now he is their Urban Schools Specialist based in London. He also is a volunteer Chaplain at a Secure Training Centre working with young people aged 12-17. His passion for seeing young peoples’ lives changed is a trait that fits Prospex to a tee.

Hi my name is Ebadur Rahman. I’m 20 years old and I live in Tower Hamlets. I was born in Portsmouth and moved to London when I was six months old. I am currently working in a crèche in Clapham and I am the new team leader for one of the Street Teams for Prospex. I am also studying NVQ level 4 Advice and Guidance and NVQ level 3 child-care. I am also an outreach worker for BLYDA in one their projects. So as you can see my life is quite packed out.

My name is Tom. I’m a musician, turntablist, beat boxer and producer based in London. I usually work under my nickname, Red.

My first release, Seen (a track made entirely from scratching), was used as the soundtrack for a Sony PSP advert. The video of me creating this track became a YouTube hit, generating 50,000 hits in less than a week.

I also do a lot of beat boxing, and I’ve used this skill to tour with New Zealand chart-toppers Kora, busk on the streets of Poland and Dublin, and earn a living teaching kids how to beat box in schools and youth clubs.

I recently played with my band Full Fat to a sell out crowd at KOKO, and I’m currently working with actor and rapper Riz MC on his album. I also played Tim in The Office: The Opera and worked with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant on their 2009 Comic Relief sketch.”

My name is Azlam and I specialise in B-Boy – Breakdancing.

I am a dancer with six years experience, a choreographer, teacher with three years experience and straight up exhibitionist who has been competing and performing for the past three years.

I have danced in the following Events:

• Nike free styler
• Nike battle grounds
• Brixton Academy root concert
• Hip Hop convention Saddlers Wells
• And performed with the Cuban Brothers

I have been involved in various competitions including

• Urban games winner 2004
• Thursday night through Down Champ 2005
• Welsh break dance championship finalist 2005
• Battle of Britain finalist 2003

As well as teaching young people how to break through Prospex, I also work for other organisations such as:

• NDC
• HAFFAD
• Fulham Cross Youth Centre
• Brunswick Boys Club
• Battersea churches and Clapham Junction council life’s better together scheme
• And Rebel dancers dance school based in Nicosia, Cyprus

My name is officially Abdul Jiale (but actual fact it is Abd’ Jaleel), I am 25 years of age. I grew up in Tower Hamlets, so as they like to call it here, a ‘real east ender’.

I grew up where people were involved in gun crime, high rates of drug dealing , Class A drug abuse and people were involved in other crimes. My own personal friends were handed 5-8 years in prison. I had two choices - join them, or work with them to get them out!

I decided to be involved and get my hands dirty, I then volunteered and did youth and community work for a number of years, jumping from one project to another, trying to meet various young people, gain different experiences, and assist them during their personal experience.

I am not a sitting in front of a TV for hours type of person, so I enjoy spending my time reading, I prefer to read about history, society and people. I have my own library. It sounds boring, but I am not sure how I got into reading?!

I have travelled to my parents’ home country, Bangladesh, which was a wake up call seeing poor people; the country is under turmoil so that made me grow up and mature. Also I have performed the minor holy pilgrimage (Umrah) to Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The main pilgrimage (Hajj) is performed by 3 million people around the world who join to participate in one place. That was the most excellent experience in my life.

Rob Pepper has worked internationally as a professional artist for the past nine years and as a workshop leader for five years. He has lived in Islington for six years and has a studio in the tower of St Luke’s Church, Hillmarton Rd, West Holloway.

Drawing is the foundation stone of his work. He uses his drawing skills to capture an essence of place and person. His small scale art work has been shown in exhibitions, used to illustrate album covers and books, and continues to be commissioned by private and corporate clients. Pepper creates substantial sized public art involving the local community. Recent commissions include redesigning the facade and designing eight large scale artworks to go into the windows and doors of the old Highbury Station, collaborating with Prospex in the designs for the parapets of an 80ft bridge in Kings Cross and a 40 panel ‘tree of life’ church roof.

He continues to work on the development and management of a three year Fine Art diploma course at London’s Art Academy where he is a senior tutor.

He exhibits regularly in the UK and USA and has published a number of artist’s books. Rob runs workshops on developing the creative impulse with his collaborative partner Aimie Littler.

Aimie Littler works in social affairs and the health arena. She uses art and creativity throughout various projects.

Recent work includes Directing ‘The Truth Isn’t Sexy’ Campaign against Sex Trafficking, which changed public policy; Thornhill Bridge art project with Prospex Youth Charity; combining Art and Reflexology courses and retreats.

She is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour on matters of the day.