Ray Lewis (youth worker)
Encyclopedia
Ray Lewis is a Guyana
-born youth worker
in the United Kingdom
and a former Deputy Mayor of London
.
. He began his career as an administrative officer in the civil service
, then studied Theology
& Pastoral Studies at Middlesex University
before being ordained in 1990. He later worked at HM Prison Woodhill in Milton Keynes
.
In 2002 Lewis became Executive Director of Eastside Young Leaders Academy, based in Newham
, east London, after being inspired by a scheme in the USA
(YLA). He visited this academy with 3 of his loyal boys, 2 of whom are still currently part of the organisation (Razak Farley & Anthony Wright) The aim of the charity is to improve the lives of young black males to prevent them turning to crime
. It offers academic coaching and mentoring from successful black businessmen. Lewis' personal aim is: "We see no shortage of young black males in the courtroom
s, so my vision is to seek to prepare as many as possible for the boardrooms." The charity received national recognition from The Guardian
newspaper in December 2007.
for Young People in May 2008 by new Mayor
Boris Johnson
.
Boris Johnson
, announced an independent inquiry into multiple allegations including financial misconduct, to be headed by Martin Narey
, the former chief of the Prison and Probation Service. The allegations included allegations that Lewis was entrusted with £25,000 from a woman in the congregation in the Parish of St Matthew, West Ham in the Diocese of Chelmsford
. Lewis also claimed in his official biography to be a Justice of the Peace
, which was later denied by the Ministry of Justice. The financial allegations are denied by Lewis as 'complete rubbish' and as an attempt to 'smear' his reputation.
It also emerged that he had been barred from working in the Church of England after allegations of financial misconduct. Lewis was placed on the Lambeth and Bishopthorpe Register—the so-called "Lambeth List"—which prohibits people from public ministry and preaching, from 1999 to 2005.
On 4 July 2008 Lewis resigned as a result of these allegations of misconduct.
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
-born youth worker
Youth Worker
A Youth worker is a person that works with young people to engage them in informal education. Youth workers can work in many contexts. In the UK and elsewhere, the main distinction is usually made between statutory, those who work as part of a government run initiative, and non-statutory, those...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and a former Deputy Mayor of London
Deputy Mayor of London
The Deputy Mayor of London is a member of the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority Act 1999. No particular duties are specified by the Act, except to be available as temporary Mayor during a vacancy or temporary incapacity of the Mayor...
.
Career
Lewis was educated in a school in WalthamstowWalthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
. He began his career as an administrative officer in the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
, then studied Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
& Pastoral Studies at Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
before being ordained in 1990. He later worked at HM Prison Woodhill in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
.
In 2002 Lewis became Executive Director of Eastside Young Leaders Academy, based in Newham
London Borough of Newham
The London Borough of Newham is a London borough formed from the towns of West Ham and East Ham, within East London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames. According to 2006 estimates, Newham has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all the...
, east London, after being inspired by a scheme in the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(YLA). He visited this academy with 3 of his loyal boys, 2 of whom are still currently part of the organisation (Razak Farley & Anthony Wright) The aim of the charity is to improve the lives of young black males to prevent them turning to crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
. It offers academic coaching and mentoring from successful black businessmen. Lewis' personal aim is: "We see no shortage of young black males in the courtroom
Courtroom
A courtroom is the actual enclosed space in which a judge regularly holds court.The schedule of official court proceedings is called a docket; the term is also synonymous with a court's caseload as a whole.-Courtroom design:-United States:...
s, so my vision is to seek to prepare as many as possible for the boardrooms." The charity received national recognition from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper in December 2007.
Deputy Mayor
Lewis was appointed as Deputy Mayor of LondonDeputy Mayor of London
The Deputy Mayor of London is a member of the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority Act 1999. No particular duties are specified by the Act, except to be available as temporary Mayor during a vacancy or temporary incapacity of the Mayor...
for Young People in May 2008 by new Mayor
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
.
Misconduct allegations
On 3 July 2008 Mayor of LondonMayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, announced an independent inquiry into multiple allegations including financial misconduct, to be headed by Martin Narey
Martin Narey
Martin Narey was the Chief Executive Officer of Barnardo's from October 2005 before stepping down in January 2011 to spend more time with his family...
, the former chief of the Prison and Probation Service. The allegations included allegations that Lewis was entrusted with £25,000 from a woman in the congregation in the Parish of St Matthew, West Ham in the Diocese of Chelmsford
Diocese of Chelmsford
The Diocese of Chelmsford is a Church of England diocese, part of the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers Essex and the five East London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest, and is co-terminous with the boundaries of the Catholic Diocese of...
. Lewis also claimed in his official biography to be a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, which was later denied by the Ministry of Justice. The financial allegations are denied by Lewis as 'complete rubbish' and as an attempt to 'smear' his reputation.
It also emerged that he had been barred from working in the Church of England after allegations of financial misconduct. Lewis was placed on the Lambeth and Bishopthorpe Register—the so-called "Lambeth List"—which prohibits people from public ministry and preaching, from 1999 to 2005.
On 4 July 2008 Lewis resigned as a result of these allegations of misconduct.