Ten years ago this week London was rocked by terrorist bombings on the Underground and a No.30 bus in Tavistock Square. As I walked through the square on Tuesday, on my way to work, I passed the small remembrance ceremony taking place around the memorial plaque for the victims. I stopped for five minutes to show my respects.

I walk through Tavistock Square about four days a week these days, and past that plaque. It’s a constant reminder of ten years ago when I came through Euston station at the same time, and got one of the five buses that I could take up to Islington where I worked. Like thousands of other commuters that morning, I sometimes think that if I was fifteen minutes later I could have been involved in the attack. The No.30 was one of those five buses I could have caught. But most people I’m sure have their own story and can vividly remember where they were on that day.

Having worked at Encompass now for two and a half years I think myself very fortunate to at least have some part to play in peace and tolerance building. I’m also pleased to be part of a team looking to expand what we do, taking our work in to schools and working directly with youth workers to address some of the causes of radicalisation and hatred.