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Andrae Palmer is the founder and Director of Ground Up Development a small youth led organisation based in South London in the heart of the Brixton community. Despite being a new organisation their reputation seems to go before them primarily due to the excellent work they are doing with some of London’s hardest to reach youngsters (those from Lambeth in particular). It all started with the young visionary who began building the foundations of the organisation in 2006. Andrae was a teenage Caribbean boy on his way down a very slippery slope until he was forced to grow up by the harsh realities often encountered by the youth growing up in London’s inner city. Born to a heroic single parent mother Andrae is the first boy of 5 siblings 2 sisters (one being his elder) and 2 brothers. He attended the St.Johns Angell Town Primary School and lived most of his junior years on the estate in Brixton South west London. Secondary school years where occupied by Battersea Technology College, before moving on to Lambeth (Vauxhall), Southwark (Waterloo) and South Thames (wandsworth) Colleges where he studied A-Level Media Studies, English Literature and Popular Music between 1999 and the year 2001.
“I’ve lived a lot despite my young age and I’ve witnessed or even been involved in some of the worst aspects of ‘street-culture’ during my latter teenage years. I’ve witnessed death and experienced the pain of seeing your loved ones lives being wasted away in prison or destroyed by drug addiction and petty crime. I would be far more cautious if I had the chance to replay those years again especially where my education is concerned. Despite my potential I wasted a lot of years and made things harder for myself not applying myself to studying, however I am grateful for all my experiences as they’ve shaped me into the man I am today, and definitely reinforces my commitment to the work that I do with young people through my organisation and otherwise. In 2003 I became a Christian around about the same time as becoming a father of two at the tender age of 21, this was a huge responsibility! I chose to meet it head on and it’s been one of the biggest turning points in my life.”
Not long after His conversion Andrae chanced by a book written by Dr. Tony Martin entitled Marcus Garvey Hero: - a first biography detailing the compelling life story of one of the world’s leading thinkers, black activist and Jamaican national Hero.
“This book sowed a seed of hope, enlightenment and relentlessness... I can’t explain the extent to which this book affected me, the way I think and my view of the world ever since.”
From this seed Hidden Histories was born, Ground Up’s first ever project –supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. He saw an opportunity to open the doors to a brighter future for inner-city youths struggling with their sense of identity and cultural pride, selflessly devoting his time and passions to establishing an exemplary organisation in youth-led community development. What has been achieved since then is a range of projects and programmes that are designed to enlighten, educate and empower young people regardless of their background. Andrae is also the founding member and was Chair (2007-2009) of the Lambeth Youth Bank.
Set to be one of the most influential social activists within the youth led dimension of voluntary action in London and his national networks are ever increasing. He has been a key note speaker for both national and regional audiences on youth related issues ranging from Gun and knife Crime conferences to local Faith Group youth gatherings and other community led events as well as numerous televised interviews. BHM 2008 Charge TV Interview.
A Peer Trainer for the World Bank/British Council initiative - Debate to Action
Andrae is also a former student and a fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs and more recent accomplishments include becoming a member for the BIG Lottery’s National Young People Fund 2 Committee – making him partly responsible for the dissemination of over 64 million pounds towards youth services across the UK over the next 5 years!
Previous work experience includes customer service / sales roles, and up until 2006 his main occupation was a Recruitment Consultant.
“Some would say that what I do falls within the remit of a: Youth Leader, Social Entrepreneur or Community Activist… I prefer to see myself simply as a Doer! I am a single father of 2 children aged 5 and 6 years as well as a recording artist / lead vocalist for a relatively well known Gospel group called Nu-Soul. In general I am a fun exuberant family orientated person, who enjoys seeing young people utilise their skills and talents to reach their potential.”
