Gideon Buabeng

WHAT A WAY TO END 2018 - It was the biggest honour today to be invited to the Clarence House and to be sat next to THE PRINCE OF WALES and THE DUKE OF SUSSEX!! 🤯🤯 And of course mr venom Tom Hardy!! I’m not going to lie, it was very overwhelming. If you had asked me if I’ll be here 10 years ago, I would of laughed and said “pshh whatever, who cares about all of that anyway”. - It’s a shame that I had to meet them through cynical circumstances, that being the epidemic of youth violence. I shared my first hand experiences having being STABBED 14 TIMES and my views on the knife crime culture. - I’ve been to a various knife crime events but this is the only one with a lot of strong influences in one room. This problem we face here needs everybody onboard. I can sit here and type about all the ways to help this issue but we’ve heard it all before. - I believe the prince trust will take positive steps to taking REAL action at ROOT of the problem we face. I’m going to repeat myself, we need everybody on board, we all have a part to play. - In all things I give thanks to God! None of this is possible without him!!🙏🏾❤️ - #mrg #hiimrg #giideonsnetwork #ventlifeuk #banter #advice #motivationalspeaker #motivation #matchlessadvice #inspiration #love #tomhardy #tinietempah #princetrust #princeofwales #dukeofsussex #princecharles #princeharry #knifecrime #princetrust #london #life

I won’t write a long caption but I hope from this snippet into my journey so far you have more clarity and understanding of why I am so passionate about young people’s well-being. I had to dig deep and get vulnerable with this one just so you all could feel it. Feel what I went i through, feel how I got through it. I am going to keep doing my bit for the community but if we want to see real change in young people’s lives, we ALL have a role to play individually. Together we rise, alone we fall. Thank you for all your support, love and encouragement. Please share with friends, family, loved ones and even strangers. When you are faced with adversity remember, that there is always light at the end of tunnel with determination and the right support system. 💛

**SWIPE LEFT**What do I say, where do I start from? I don’t know but one thing I do know is I’m grateful for God, my family, my friends, the trust, my mentor and everyone that supported me in any way shape or form after I got stabbed. Realistically I should be dead but my God’s not realistic, he’s unexplainable. 14 stab wounds, 5 5-inches deep and one a inch away from hitting a vital organ and killing me. It doesn’t make sense to me and I don’t think it ever will. Words can’t describe what this award means to me, the last time I got an award I was probably 13 or something. Guess I got an early birthday present 😁 - ⭐️ YOUNG AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARD ⭐️ I want this award to show everyone and anyone that with what ever you may go through in life never give up. Hardships and crazy scenarios are part of life unfortunately. Some of us survive and some of us don’t 😔💔. If you do survive, you have survived for a reason. You can’t do it alone so get/find/search for a support system that help you get through what ever battle your facing. You won’t win every battle but I promise if you keep going every time you get knocked down, you’ll surely win the war. I want to congratulate all the Other winners last night too at the prince trust awards. @princestrust ARE & HAVE been doing amazing things for young people for years and I’ll always be grateful, so so grateful. Thank you everyone for your encouraging messages/phone calls/posts love you all man. I’ll leave it here (I still got many pics to post by the way so stay tuned) 1Love ❤️❤️❤️

Not every win is loud. Some are measured. Happy New Year, We hope you had a restful Christmas and holiday break 🫱🏾‍🫲🏻 
As we step into 2026, we wanted to pause - not just to reflect on what we delivered, but on the difference it made. 2025 at Our Pain 2 Power looked like this: • 7,000+ young people supported
• 50+ school and community workshops delivered
• 55,000+ hours of 1:1 mentoring and youth support delivered
• 250K+ digital reach, amplifying youth voices and lived experience But impact goes beyond activity. 📊Post-programme feedback and evaluation data indicated that: • 85% of young people sustained engagement across the op2p programme • 72% demonstrated improved engagement in Maths and English through alternative education provision • 90% experienced increased self-esteem and confidence • 70% showed positive behavioural or attitudinal change • 65% reported increased readiness for education, employment or next steps Behind every number is a young person, a conversation, and a moment of growth We are a small but growing youth organisation, led with care, intention and accountability - always centring young people, not just outputs. Thank you to our mentors, delivery teams, partners, funders, schools and supporters.
And to the young people who trust us - you are the reason. 2026, we’re ready.
More depth. More reach. More impact. 📩 Want to work with us? [email protected] #HappyNewYear #OurPain2Power #YouthImpact #CommunityWork EvidenceLedNonProfitUK

In a recent interview, we spoke with @gideonsnetwork Gideon Buabeng (he/him), Founding Director of Our Pain 2 Power, who co-delivered the Full Potential Programme alongside Forward Ever CIC. Gideon shared his reflections on what made the programme unique, the power of mentoring, and why consistency in youth work is key. Watch through to see his insights! #FullPotentialProgramme #ForwardEverCIC #OurPain2Power #YouthEmpowerment #MentorshipMatters

The most powerful part of the Braiders Brunch UK? Watching our young people in the room, inspired by a movement created for them and their futures. We are beyond grateful to have been the official charity partner of this incredible event, created by our sister organisation @braidsgang Not only did the brunch raise vital funds to support our mentoring work across the UK, but it also gave our founder @gideonsnetwork the chance to share our mission with a powerful room of industry leaders, creators, and change-makers. What made it truly unforgettable was seeing our young people’s eyes light up as they listened to stories of resilience, creativity, and success. Many left feeling more confident and motivated about their own futures and that’s the power of representation and community in action. 💫 The money raised will go directly towards creating safe spaces, mentorship, and workshops that help young people build self-esteem, resilience, and positive pathways forward. A huge thank you to @myavanahaircare , the Powered By sponsor of the Braiders Brunch UK, for leading the way in innovation and community impact. Special appreciation also goes to @kakesbykaz , who donated delicious cupcakes that we were able to sell on the day to raise additional funds for our work. And a big thank you to @denmanbrush and @chapmansoflondon & @peakmoods for generously contributing gifts and refreshments that helped make the event experience even more memorable for attendees including our young people. Moments like this remind us that when culture, creativity and community come together, we bridge today’s opportunities with tomorrow’s futures. A massive thank you to Gabriella and the entire @braidsgang BraidsGang team for making this vision a reality. We can’t wait to see what comes next! #OurPain2Power #BraidersBrunchUK #BraidsGang #EmpoweringYouth #BuildingFutures

Congratulations to Gideon Buabeng for officially qualifying for the voting stage in the Grass Roots Excellence Award category. Public voting is now open. Visit or click the link in our bio to cast your vote and recognise those leading positive change within their communities. Winners will be announced at the awards show on 11th October 2025. #CGTAwards2025 #GrassRootsExcellenceAward #VoteNow #GideonBuabeng #PublicVotingOpen #CelebratingExcellence #CGTCommunity #CommunityLeadership #GrassRootsImpact #VoteForGideonBuabeng #LocalChangeMakers #RepresentationMatters

Back at the Youth Opportunities Summit one year later — this time joined by even more powerful voices and social champions, alongside His Royal Highness King Charles, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the chief @idriselba . It was amazing speaking with HRH King Charles and him mentioning that he has heard the work @ourpain2power which is amazing 🙏🏾. We reflected on the amazing progress made to name a few, the initiatives, the ban on zombie knives, Roman’s Law, and the @faronalexpaul Amnesty knife collection: All meaningful steps forward However, the reality is, knife crime is still on the rise, with a 4% increase from 2023 to 2024. And sadly, we’re seeing early signs of another rise this year. We know what works. The public health approach works. What’s missing is long-term, sustainable investment, and the right people delivering real change at ground level. I also made a point in saying, we can’t just support vulnerable young people, we have to support their parents too without blaming them. If we want real change, it takes a whole-community approach. Proud to be part of the conversation, but more importantly, committed to the action. #YouthOpportunitiesSummit #OurPain2Power #KnifeCrimeAwareness #YouthViolencePrevention #KingsTrust #PublicHealthApproach #IdrisElba #KingCharles #KeirStarmer #SocialImpact #YouthWorkMatters #RealChangeStartsHere

Introducing Gideon Buabeng — Founder & Director of Our Pain 2 Power & Leading Voice for Youth Empowerment and Community Reform ✨ We are honoured to welcome @gideonsnetwork , one of the UK’s most powerful and respected voices in youth advocacy, social justice, and community transformation, to the Braiders Brunch stage. His work sits at the intersection of lived experience, leadership, and deep community impact and his presence represents the heart of what this event is all about! Gideon is the Founder & Director of Our Pain 2 Power, an award-winning Alternative Learning Provision that supports at-risk and marginalised young people across London. Through tailored 1:1 mentoring, emotionally intelligent workshops, and life skills programmes, Gideon and his team provide crucial support to young people navigating school exclusion, exploitation, and complex personal challenges — helping them rewrite their futures with strength and purpose. As a King’s Trust Ambassador, Gideon uses his voice to influence national conversations and shape youth policy and investment. He also serves on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) London Scrutiny Panel, where he works to ensure justice systems are fair, transparent, and truly representative of the communities they serve. He has also collaborated on high-impact projects with Idris Elba and Don’t Stop Your Future (DSYF), advocating for meaningful change and new opportunities for young people across the UK. 👉 And this year, we are especially proud to announce that Braiders Brunch will be raising funds in support of @ourpain2power , helping to expand their transformative work and directly impact the lives of more young people. Every ticket purchased and every voice in the room contributes to this mission. Gideon Buabeng is more than a speaker — he is a catalyst for change, and his work reminds us of the true power of community, compassion, and purpose-led leadership. #BraidersBrunchuk #GideonBuabeng #OurPain2Power #FromPainToPower #YouthEmpowerment #SocialJustice #KingsTrustAmbassador #CPSLondon #DSYF #RaisingFundsForChange #BraidsGang #PurposeDrivenLeadership #CharityWithImpact

(2/2) Some more BTS 🇲🇨🫨😍 🙏🏾

(1/2) - Super late March dump for obvious reasons. First, thank you Lord for allowing me and my loved ones to see another month. At the end of Feb, I got a call from @kingstrust inviting me to Monaco 🫨 Turns out a gentleman I shared my story with 6 years ago remembered my words and personally requested me. I’ll leave his name out, but back then I was new to public speaking. Nervous, doubting myself, and often didn’t even want to go. It’s mad how something I said in 2019 stayed with him and his wife all these years. Fast forward to now, I had the honour of meeting Prince of Monaco, Monsieur Albert. Sharing my journey and having a great conversation with him. I also reconnected with Stelios @easyjet founder, his partner Orla Murphy, and met some truly inspiring people who came from humble beginnings. One of the highlights was meeting the legend Dame Shirley Bassey at the event, unreal moment. I also popped into Riviera Radio to share my journey, which was another great experience. 10/10 trip. Yacht Club living was different. Massive thank you to @kingstrust for the ongoing support over the years, and to the amazing team that looked after me during this trip. Let me tell you something, life comes at you fast because then BOOM… a week after coming baxk to london , I woke up and couldn’t walk. Turns out I’d fractured my foot and didn’t realise until the pain became unbearable. I was off my feet for 8 days, 3 weeks after now healing with one crutch and a boot. Not being able to train or even shower alone has been humbling but I’m still showing up, hopping around supporting our young people with my team by my side. Thank you @carl_in_cannes for taking these amazing pictures too! Sometimes the detour is the route, trust the process even if it doesn’t make sense 🙏🏾.

Hello, March! - February was a month of growth, gratitude, and new opportunities. First and foremost, I thank God for health and a sound mind. - @ourpain2power workshops saw us tackle exploitation, peer pressure and youth violence. Helping young people recognise how easily they can be manipulated into dangerous situations and, more importantly, how to avoid them. Many of them didn’t realise that grooming doesn’t always start with force, it often starts with friendship, favors, and false promises. - A huge highlight last month was co-creating and delivering an immersive workshop on social injustice and youth violence with @periscopelearning founded by my good friend @htspear . We delivered our first session for third-year students at Leeds University, and the impact was incredible. - This wasn’t just a conversation. It was a call to action. The students walked away feeling empowered to be part of the solution, whether through policy, law, social work, or community engagement. They also developed key employability skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills that will serve them well in law, criminology, social work, and beyond. - I was invited to speak on Ronan’s Law at @skynews , which holds companies accountable for selling knives to minors, with potential convictions for CEOs and staff who break the law. While I welcome this change, I also emphasized the need to address the WHY!! Why are young people resorting to violence? Removing knives won’t solve the deeper issues unless we tackle the root causes: poverty, trauma, lack of opportunities, and a broken system that fails to support young people before they reach crisis points. - The police training continues, and while it comes with its challenges, as Lee always says, the purpose outweighs the challenge. It’s not easy being in these spaces, but it’s necessary.