It has been almost 20 years since the murder of QPR youth footballer Kiyan Prince in Edgware, but his legacy continues to grow through the dedicated work of his community.
At 15, Prince was one of the academy’s most promising talents until he became the victim of one of the most notorious stabbings to have taken place in London.
The Kiyan Prince Foundation was established by Prince’s father in 2008 to not only carry on the legacy of his son but to help young people deter themselves from acts of violence and empower themselves.
COO Jon Guymer discussed in further detail the array of objectives the foundations strive to meet.
He said: “As Director of Operations at the Kiyan Prince Foundation, I see firsthand the vital role we play in empowering young people to make positive life choices.
“Our work is about more than just honoring Kiyan’s legacy, it’s about creating real change in our communities by tackling the root causes of youth violence and offering mentorship, support, and opportunities.
“We provide young people with the tools and guidance they need to believe in themselves and build brighter futures, and that impact resonates far beyond any single individual.”
Guymer forms part of a team who are collectively responsible for heading events such as the future champions programme, community-based talks, and a dedicated research team based on youth crime.
Knife-crime incidents have seen a 16% increase in the last recorded data collected in June 2024, a 14-year high according to The Ben Kinsella Trust.
Foundation ambassador Daniel Healy aims to complete eight million steps between February and the end of December, taking 25,000 steps a day, along with 50km run and 100m challenge.
Healy, an ambassador for the foundation, hopes his fundraiser #8millionforKiyan will draw funding to evolve the future champion’s programme, which a boxing-focused programme.
He said: “Every hour we can get the kids into the gyms is an hour they are not on the streets getting into trouble, so the more we raise, the bigger impact we can have.
“One of my big goals in life is to help create a Gold Medal Winning boxer down the line.
“We’re identifying youngsters similar to the ones we work with at Kiyan Prince Foundation, giving them a chance, giving them the support they need, the positive role models they need, in order to feel more confident and to feel more positive.”
Healy suggested that the ability to become a champion in the programe will embody the rewards of avoiding anti-social environments.
He added: “Once they’ve settled into a routine with the boxing, many will have a positive impact on the community around them and society around them.
“One or two may have just what it takes to climb the ranks and become a champion, a gold medal winner, the best version of themselves. That is what I’d love to be part of. The whole process from start to finish.”
The foundation has benefitted massively from the work of external foundations, specifically the QPR trust, who played a pivotal part in Prince’s life.
To those involved within the club the foundation is a cause close to their hearts, with Loftus Road being renamed to the Kiyan Prince Foundation stadium in his honor.
FIFA also incorporated Prince into their FIFA 21 gameplay sporting a QPR kit which gained massive publicity within the footballing community and picked up several awards.
QPR in the Community Trust have dedicated their own programes to encouraging community engagement through educational and sporting initiatives for those who have been caught up in crime and are seeking a reformed lifestyle.
Communications and Marketing officer Saif Atrakji explained the importance the impact of the club itself on these relevant community causes and how the presence of the clubs fanbase form the bedrock for support for these causes.
He said: “We really must rely on our local community, fans in the local area, and the newer fans.
“You look at White City, and the area around Shepherds Bush, it’s completely different to what the area was 30 years ago.
“It’s about changing our model, changing our targets to really tend to the needs of the local community.
“It’s utilizing the power of the badge, to keep the QPR badge powerful, a lot of people know us, how can we utilize the power that we’ve got to really relate to the community around us?”
These external foundations have allowed crossovers between communities all across London to unify and become a singular driving force in promoting the legacy that Prince leaves behind.
Featured image copyright Steve Daniels and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
