For more than three decades, Stephen “Steve” Barnabis BEM has dedicated himself to young people. From working with some of the most vulnerable in our communities to founding Project Zero in Walthamstow, his belief is remarkably simple: given support, opportunity and someone who genuinely believes in them, young people can flourish.
Today, Steve is a familiar face in Waltham Forest. His portrait can be seen on a wall in Canning Road, Walthamstow; his work brought King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla through the doors of Project Zero; and in the 2025 New Year Honours he was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to young people and the community in Waltham Forest.
Yet behind the awards and recognition is a deeply personal story. Elaine Henry sat down with Steve to find out more.
Q: You’ve spent much of your life working with young people. Was there ever a point when you thought, “I can’t keep doing this”?
A: Yes. I started working with young people from a very early age and later worked within the criminal justice system and youth offending, including with young people who had committed serious violence.
Then, in 2004, my own cousin lost his life because a young person decided to carry a knife and use it. I was conflicted. Suddenly, my family was experiencing bereavement because of the very type of crime committed by some of the young people I had spent my career supporting. It took some time, but eventually it motivated me even more.
Young people need support, direction and intervention. We can’t simply say, “They’re bad,” and dismiss them. If we do, nothing changes.
| “Somebody needs to look at them and say, ‘I believe in you.’” |
Q: What does a young person need to hear to believe another path is possible?
A: Somebody needs to look at them and say, “I believe in you.”
Whatever difficulties you’re having, I believe you can be the best person you can be. Words are easy, though. Young people need to see through your actions that you’ve got their back. When they genuinely see that, you’d be amazed how much they can rise.
What success can look like
For Steve, success isn’t always measured by qualifications or careers. He remembers one extremely shy young man who barely spoke when he first attended Project Zero. Through a Lego activity, he gradually came out of his shell and eventually helped run a drone-flying session.
“We’ve had young people who were not predicted to achieve good grades go on to achieve excellent grades and go on to amazing jobs.”
“But sometimes success is simply a young person smiling for the first time. They may have so much happening in their lives that being able to stop and smile is a big achievement. That can be success for the day.”
Another success story was actually behind the camera during the interview. He arrived at Project Zero through a summer jobs programme around three years ago. Today, he is a valued member of the Project Zero team.
A cheeky question brought royalty to Project Zero
Project Zero’s royal connection began not with Steve seeking recognition, but with a young person’s confidence to ask a question.
In June 2022, Steve attended the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Big Lunch, having been recognised as a Platinum Jubilee Champion for his voluntary service to the community.
It was there that one of his team members cheekily asked the then Queen Consort Camilla: why couldn’t the Royal Family come and visit Project Zero?
The response was refreshingly straightforward: write in and ask.
So they did.
Just months later, on 18 October 2022, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla arrived at Project Zero in Walthamstow, meeting its young people and seeing for themselves the programmes being delivered.
Q: Royal visits make headlines, but did that visit have any lasting impact on Project Zero?
A: Before, we were averaging around 30, 35, sometimes 40 young people at a youth session, and those were good numbers. The royal visit raised our profile. More people became aware of Project Zero and more young people started coming through the doors.
The recognition gave the project a greater status in the community and helped people take notice of what we were doing.
The royal visit came first. Further recognition followed. Steve was named in the 2025 New Year Honours, receiving the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to young people and the community in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
Yet medals, murals and royal visitors don’t appear to have changed the focus of his work.
Q: What advice would you give a parent worried that their child is getting involved with the wrong crowd or carrying a weapon?
A: The first thing is to listen and try not to overreact. As a parent myself, I know that’s difficult.
Your child needs to feel comfortable enough to tell you when there is a problem. Be in tune with them. Notice changes in behaviour, if they stop engaging or don’t seem happy.
If a young person feels they need to carry a knife for protection, carrying a weapon isn’t the answer. We’ve seen young people become victims of their own knife and others end up in prison.
Find an appropriate adult you trust and talk. Carrying that weapon could have devastating consequences for your life.
Q: Finally, for someone who has never heard of Project Zero, what does it stand for?
A: Project Zero is about engaging young people in positive activities, promoting social inclusion and reducing antisocial and offending behaviour.
Our ambition is to see a year with zero deaths from knife crime or youth violence.
But when young people walk through our doors, we’re not banging on about knife crime. We ask: What are your goals? What are your dreams? What are your ambitions? What can we do to help you achieve them?
I want young people to see activities, joy and engagement — things to live for, things to be excited about and things to look forward to.
Belief, opportunity, ambition and a bright future
Perhaps that is why Project Zero continues to resonate. Its name speaks of something the community desperately wants to eliminate — youth violence — but Steve Barnabis has chosen to pursue that goal by concentrating on what young people can gain:
BELIEF • OPPORTUNITY • AMBITION • A BRIGHT FUTURE
Afiwe editorial note
Afiwe provides space for community voices, interviews, commentary and lived experience. Views and opinions expressed by interviewees and contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Afiwe, its publishers, partners or funders. Afiwe aims to distinguish clearly between opinion and verified fact and to provide appropriate context where matters are contested, developing or subject to ongoing proceedings.
