It was as head boy of his school in EastbourneA town on the southeast coast of England. that Josh Babarinde first realised he could influence events. He persuaded the teachers to let him organise a non-uniform day, with pupils paying £1 to charity to take part. "I remember being really moved the day when it came: there were lots of kids in their own clothes, just having a great time.

"And it was at that point, I thought, 'Oh, wow... if you've got something that you believe needs to happen, and people want it to happen - you can help to make it happen!' That was a bit of a political awakening for me."¹

Babarinde became MPMember of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK. for Eastbourne at the last election, defeating one of his former teachers - Caroline Ansell, who had been the town's ToryA member of the Conservative party.  MP for five years. In his maiden speechFirst speech. he paid tribute to her and to Mrs Baker - an elderly White woman who had fostered his NigerianFrom Nigeria, Africa's most populated nation. father and uncle.

Babarinde was raised on a council estateIn the UK, housing estates where people, often on low incomes, rent heir homes from the local authority, rather than a landlord. by his White mother. "Home was not always safe when I was growing up," he told his fellow MPs,² "but thanks to a wonderful family who loved me, thanks to Scout leaders at 1st Seaside troop who challenged me, and thanks to teachers at Cavendish School who believed in me, Eastbourne gave me opportunity."

At 18 he won a place to study politics at the London School of EconomicsAlso known as LSE. A world-leading university that specialises in social sciences. . He joined the Lib DemsA liberal political party in the UK. Their full name is the Liberal Democrats. because he liked the look of their beer mats and had to sign up to get one.

After graduating he became a parliamentary researcher and then volunteered as a youth worker in London's East End. There he saw young people being drawn into crime by the lack of job opportunities, and decided to do something about it.  

Babarinde realised that a lot of people who damaged their mobile phones waited months to get them mended.³ He reasoned that there was room for a quick and easily accessible repair service.

He taught himself repair skills from YouTube videos. Then he set out to recruit a work force from young offenders and those in danger of being drawn into gangs.

"I would go on to estates at stupid-o'clock at night. I would go wear a big black coat, and inside it there's all this phone repair paraphernaliaThe equipment or stuff needed for a particular activity. . So I was going into stairwells where lads were smoking weed at night, and would say: 'You can make cash from fixing phones: I can show you how.'

"Some of them thought I was an undercover police officer, or thought 'Who is this dude just rocking up on my estate?' But there'd be some who would give me the time of day, so I got some of them signed up."⁴

His company, Cracked It, started with pop-up stalls and went on to mend phones for staff at large offices such as the US Embassy. Within five years he had employed nearly 200 young people.

Two thirds of his employees ended up in further education or employment, and only 20% of those who had been in trouble with the law reoffended. His work earned him an OBEThe Order of the British Empire, a lesser honour than a CBE. at the age of 26.

During the pandemic he launched a scheme to provide care-home residents with free smartphones, and also volunteered as a vaccinator.

Does politics make a real difference?

Yes: Without politicians there would be anarchyA situation in which there are no rulers. The term can be used to describe complete political chaos or mob rule, but those who call themselves anarchists generally believe in mutual aid and cooperation, not a war of all-against-all.. We need them to decide what is best for the country, and have them to thank for the welfare state and the NHSThe National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948., which have transformed millions of lives.

No: Most politicians are just out for themselves and stand for Parliament as a means of self-promotion. People who want to effect serious change are better off as entrepreneurs or campaigners.

Or... Only if politicians understand ordinary people's lives. Babarinde says that although his time as a researcher was valuable, "I felt very disconnected from what was really happening on the ground."