Call for young people to honour Tashan Daniel's legacy
Monday 17 June 2024: Hillingdon Council is encouraging aspirational young people to apply for a bursary set up in memory of young resident Tashan Daniel, who was just 20 years old when he was tragically killed in an unprovoked knife attack at Hillingdon Underground station.
Watch video: Tashan's sister Oceanna encourages people to apply for the award.
Oceanna, aged 19, is now studying Criminology at university. She said: "I will never understand why those heartless individuals took away my brother's innocent life, but the council's bursary is a positive way to honor his name. We're supporting motivated, talented individuals to pursue their dreams and ambitions, whilst also giving back to the community."
Young people up to the age of 21 in Hillingdon can apply for funding to help work towards their ambitions across a multitude of disciplinaries including sport, theatre, arts and education.
Zara Khan, aged 14 from Northwood, said: "I applied for the Tashan Daniel Award when my dad was seriously ill, as I had to stop a lot of activities that I'd been pursuing to follow my dream of becoming a lead performer in musical theatre. The award enabled me to return to building skills in dramatic arts and I hope to honour Tashan's legacy, not only performing on stage but as a drama therapist to support other children like me who are going through challenging times."
This academic year, the council has worked in partnership with the police, magistrates and victims services to deliver more than 100 preventative sessions on knife crime to 11 and 12-year-olds in secondary schools across Hillingdon. The interactive 'Your Life, You Choose' workshops aim to tackle knife crime through education, whilst providing a safe space for children to discuss their concerns and learn where to go for help.
Cllr Jane Palmer, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: "To honour Tashan's legacy and help young people reach their goals, we're providing funding up to £2,000 per person each year. We're looking for applicants who are not only excellent in their chosen field, but who also want to support and inspire other talented young people."
Applications will close on Sunday 7 July, and you can find further details on: www.hillingdon.gov.uk/tashan-daniel-award
