Roger Diamond

Real Action’s founder, is assisting with the continued growth and success of Real Action.

PROFILE  As a young man, he formed and promoted a youth R&B band and two British reggae bands in North London - one of which reached number two in the UK pop hits charts. He then joined Haringey Youth Service. Tensions were high between youths and police, and for many years he worked as a detached youth and community leader - mentoring youths who hung out in youth clubs and the streets.

Roger founded and managed the non-profit '18th Brocade Performing Arts' project in Tottenham from 1978 to 1987 to help address local youth issues, where he taught music and drama to teenagers. He wrote and organised theatrical events, plays and musicals. They performed at Town Halls, colleges and most of Haringey’s primary schools. Eventually Roger moved to West London.

Around 1994, Mozart (council housing) Estate was about to be subject to major regeneration called "Estate Action". But "Real action" was what local estate residents told Roger they wanted, to deal with the epic violent youth crime and anti-social problems in the area. Roger, then a member of the Tenants’ Association, campaigned for security guards to patrol the then-crime-ridden estate (it was a no-go area for taxi cabs, delivery drivers etc., even the police!).

Eventually, two friendly (racially diverse), socially conscious, young security guards, patrolled the renowned council estate with an Alsatian dog. They also chatted with the children and gang members who used to follow them (intrigued) as they patrolled. One day the uniformed guards called Roger explaining that two 14-year-old gang leaders said they were struggling with their literacy and maths and wanted weekly extra-mural help.

With the help of then councillor Katie Ivens, and literacy expert Irina Tyk, the Butterfly Summer Reading School pilot on the Mozart Estate followed (& filmed for a TV documentary) in summer 1995. About nine months later, ten local community members and Katie responded to Roger’s call to form the Founding Committee of a tailor-made community educational charity. Roger, remembering the concerns and pleas of his anguished neighbours, suggested 'Real Action' as the charity's name, which was unanimously adopted by the Founding Trustees. Funding being its main challenge, the charity kept evolving year by year, until it acquired a purpose-designed base on Mozart Street. Decades later - Roger continues to help run and develop Real Action in 2022, wearing various hats including managing the Saturday School and assisting the Education Director.

Since 1999, Real Action has opened a number of Saturday Butterfly Literacy Schools. In 2010 Roger ran a pilot project in a secondary school. It taught Butterfly literacy mastery and acoustic music to year 7 children falling behind with their reading ability. Many attended because they could not even read a three letter word. The successful pilot provided the model for Real Action's Butterfly In-School project/programme thereafter. The Butterfly literacy in-schools programme has been delivered in numerous state schools, for children falling behind with reading - with remarkable results. 

During that era Roger also served as a state school governor for about six years. Then in 2019 he wanted to get more involved in the conversation about what more can be done to help disadvantaged parents reduce the fast-growing epic problem of youth violence, knife-crime, and anti-social behaviour experienced in many deprived areas. Roger then founded a voluntary organisation called RDF. Its main purpose is to provide online services directly helping disadvantaged parents - further reducing the risk of their children being involved in gang, street and violent crime. 

Roger is now a local parish councillor. His favourite hobby is performing as an acoustic pianist - his repertoire mainly consists of popular tunes, jazz standards and film anthems. He put together a temporary quintet - performing R&B and Jazz - called the 'Butterfly Jazz Band' for a special event to raise awareness for Real Action in 2018. Currently (a quarter of a century since Real Action first began), Roger spends most of his time and passion managing the Butterfly Saturday School and assisting with the continued growth and success of Real Action.