Musician wins Mobo for saving youths from gangs

A LONDON musician who has helped steer hundreds of youths away from street crime is to be honoured with a special award at tonight's Mobos.

Ricky McCalla, who started tackling gang violence after being shot by a carjacker, runs a small recording studio in Crystal Palace where he mentors young people at risk of becoming gang members. But the 26-year-old from Lewisham today warned a lack of funding could force him to close his studio this year.

A bullet lodged in the back of his neck from the June 2005 attack is a constant reminder of the impact of gun crime, which cut short his career as a choreographer. Doctors warned he could be paralysed if he danced again.

He said: "It was devastating as I was at the top of my career,. I had become well established as a dancer and choreographer but my world turned upside down when I was shot. I was strongly advised in hospital to stop dancing and told I would be taking eight medications every day for the rest of my life. They couldn't remove the bullet as it is so close to my spine."

He set up the Frosted Ice project with his psychotherapist mother, Kimouy McCalla, to help young people in his community when he learned about the boy who shot him.

Mr McCalla added: "When I found out that my attacker was under 18 that put a stamp on the situation as something that happened for a reason.

"I wanted to use what happened to me to help young people by giving them something constructive to do and making them feel like they are part of a family. Teaching them music is the tool to keep them away from the streets." Mr McCalla, who runs the project from a basement, will be given the BeMobo Award 2008 for making a difference in his community. He received hundreds of nominations from the public.

He estimates he has helped more than 300 young people with songwriting, recording and advice and contacts in the music industry. Despite the chance to meet some of his musical heroes tonight, including John Legend and Run DMC frontman Rev Run, he is more interested in using the event to appeal for funding.

He said: "The pressure of running the project with no steady income has put a real strain on my mum and I. We may have to close it all by the end of the year. I hope that by winning these awards I can raise awareness as we desperately need help. I know how much this means to the kids and the minute this is taken away from them the streets are waiting."

Noel Clarke, who directed the critically acclaimed film Adulthood, describes Mr McCalla as "an inspiration in our community and a role model for others to follow".

He has made a short film about Mr McCalla to be shown at the event.

Kanya King MBE, founder of Mobo, said: "It's wonderful that we are able to honour many people and organisations in the community who like Ricky make a difference, day in, day out in the lives of others." The Mobo Awards are broadcast live from Wembley Arena on BBC Three, with a special 90-minute show on BBC One on 17 October.