Nine years on from one of Britain's most devastating disasters, the Grenfell Tower fire still casts a long shadow over the lives of young people who witnessed its horrors as children. The memories of that fateful night – June 14, 2017 – continue to haunt many who were forced to mature rapidly amidst unimaginable loss and uncertainty. According to NHS data, nearly two-thirds of those affected by the disaster experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with mental health concerns being a significant concern for young people in particular.
Yusra Cherbika, now 21, was just 12 when she was evacuated from her home near the tower. She recounts spending over a year in temporary accommodation, struggling to focus on her studies as classmates went missing and their fates remained unknown for weeks. For Ms Cherbika, one classmate never returned. "Growing up with Grenfell was like having a constant companion," she reflects, adding that the traumatic experience has had a lasting impact on who she is today.
Through The Space, a local community hub, these young individuals have established a youth-led support service aimed at providing a safe and non-judgmental environment for sharing their experiences and trauma. They've also launched the 'Hear Their Healing' campaign, calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the specific impact of the fire on children's mental health.
Many accounts from young people reveal shortcomings in post-disaster mental health support, which often relied heavily on art therapy with little consideration for individual needs or cultural backgrounds. Ms Cherbika remembers feeling lost and confused about what therapy was all about at the time, while religious pathways to healing – crucial for her as a Muslim – were never offered or discussed.
Rabab Chentoum, 20, didn't fully grasp the scale of the disaster until later, but as she's grown in understanding of the systemic failures that contributed to the fire, so has its impact on her mental well-being. Both Ms Cherbika and Ms Chentoum express a deep-seated distrust in authorities, exacerbated by what they see as inadequate and culturally insensitive support following the tragedy.
Samia Badani, Chief Executive of The Space, stresses the need for lessons to be learned from the post-Grenfell response – particularly the lack of safe spaces for young people to express themselves. She criticises the government for failing to conduct a thorough impact assessment on the mental health of young people and for consistently excluding their voices from policy and service development. Joe Powell, Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater, echoes these concerns, highlighting that young people in the area were "profoundly affected" and must be heard regarding their healing needs, especially given the significant health inequalities in the community.