Need More Love

Written and performed by Roots Ambassador, Vincent Nap, the song, 'Need More Love', was recorded as a personal appeal to end the increasing violence and knife-crime in London, and to aid with circulating the message of love, peace, and unity in the local community.

The song became an instant hit and, seeing the positive impact the message had, Nap sought to take things further and started the Need More Love Campaign.

Vincent Nap explains: "Need More Love is really an on-going movement to spread the word of harmony and love. There is just too much aggression on the streets. So, it is all about the idea that working together and approaching issues with positive, rather than negative, vibes can be more productive and change lives."

All For One, and One For All

The Need More Love is simple, All For One - those who are able (the All), within the community, help those who are less able (the One). And, One For All - when the 'One' is more able, they continue the cycle. This concept can only work on a foundation of love. This is why we 'Need More Love'!

Nap continues: "I am a Rastaman, and our motto is 'One Love', so the Need More Love message is just an extension of that. We want to change the mindset of youngsters, and even adults, that are taking part in negativity and violent crime."

The Need More Love Campaign has grown from the local efforts of one man to a small community of volunteers who donate their time and skills to work with families, single-parents, teens, and young adults - educating them on how to end the cycle of violence in our communities. A campaign Which started among friends and family has seen positive results and growth within those families and is now watching the fruits of it's labour increase as the message is adopted by others within the community.

Each One Teach One

Need More Love works with individuals and families with the aim of educating parents and teens helping to make things calmer on the home-front and on the streets, and mentoring teens and young adults; providing alternative choices to gang/drug-culture and peer-pressure.

Corporations spend millions in advertising, because they know what we see and hear influences our thoughts and behaviour. Armed with this knowledge, Need More Love partners with professionals who work with individuals in real-world situations. Positive role models mentor young adults in a professional environment (allowing them to broaden their horizon, gain experience, build confidence, and learn to resist peer pressure) and they, in turn, model this type of positive behaviour with their peers.

Today's Child, Tomorrow's Leader

The original vision of the Need More Love Campaign was to help bring an end to the increasing gun-violence and knife-crime in London by highlighting positive programs which educate and empower youth to find alternative solutions to conflicts; by creating and supporting projects designed to equip and influence youngsters in making positive life-choices; and by assisting victims and families of gun-violence and knife-crime.

Need More Love's hands-on experience has opened our eyes to the true scope of violence in our society and its detrimental effects on the community. Part of the problem is not the violence on the streets, per se, but the influences and pressures faced by today's youth - which help limit their perceived choices, actions and, ultimately, their reactions (especially in conflict situations).

Whether in the home, on the television, or on the streets today's children are witnessing violence at unprecedented levels. The argument of whether violent content on television has contributed to an increase of violence on the streets is moot; psychological research has shown a young child's mind cannot process the differences between 'fantasy' and reality, and the child will eventually 'act out' negative behaviour they have seen modelled.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

Home Is Where The Heart Is

"Love starts in the home. A child learns love at home. That's how it is supposed to be, right? But the family structure has broken down and family members no longer talk with each other. Communication is the key that brings understanding - understanding of what the other person is saying, thinking, feeling, experiencing. How can you know if someone is hurting inside, if you don't take the time to listen to what they are saying? For communication to really work, then love has to be the foundation. That is why we need more love. And, as I said, love starts in the home." Vincent Nap

The traditional extended family support system of yesteryear no longer exists, and today's younger, less experienced parents are not only ill-prepared for parenthood, but also face unthinkable challenges in child-rearing and parenting. The availability of programs, resources, and trained professionals to assist at-risk families with parent-training and other needs are quickly fading from existence.

In our quest to be a part of the solution and effect positive changes, we are compelled to act and to motivate and inspire others to also take action. However, Need More Love, and other grass-roots organizations staffed by volunteer workers, are extremely limited in how many clients our services can support and the needs we can meet.

Fuelled by television, a paradigm shift is taking place where violence and profanity are rapidly being accepted as a normal part of childhood and life. Traditional family values are disintegrating, and the once rare single-parent family has become typical. Violence and crime statistics are rising at an alarming rate. and the pressures of everyday life are leaving many distraught and perplexed.

What Are You Doing?

There is no quick fix or simple solution. However, working All For One and One For All, we can make a difference.

While still in its infancy, the Need More Love Campaign is nonetheless growing and moving forward. As we continue our work with local youth and the elderly, new projects include an upcoming campaign to raise awareness of the plight of battered women and children.

Need More Love is also working on producing booklets offering parenting tips and guidance (such as creating a support system) for young and single-parents; a project designed to pair up young families with older, experienced families acting as mentors; researching literacy and tutoring programs; and we are looking forward to working with local churches and other organizations to help increase the limited number of food-banks in the greater London area.

Please help raise awareness for the Need More Love Campaign. For more information on how you can help, email: nml@vincentnap.com

You can make a difference!