06:00, 02 July 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Whether you know him because you did NCS as an older Gen-Z kid, grew up watching SBTV or through his close relationship with Ed Sheeran, the late Jamal Edwards was a pioneer in platforming emerging talent and empowering young people to get involved in media and creative practice.
Throughout years of work, he has continued to inspire many people across the UK to pursue their dreams and put themselves out there to gain skills.
For this month, we want to honour the late media pioneer’s dedication to youth skills, so here are 5 notable feats of his career as a positive icon.
Beginning at age 15, Jamal filmed performances in his bedroom and uploaded them to YouTube under the name SB.TV, short for “SmokeyBarz”. Through his iconic series, F64 and acoustic A64 he spotlighted artists such as Stormzy, Dave, Jessie J and Ed Sheeran. These platforms transformed how emerging talent was discovered, which for some launched them into stardom.
In 2019, frustrated by the decline in youth services, Jamal launched Jamal Edwards Delve (aka JED or JE Delve). With generous funding from Google and the Wellcome Trust, he refurbished and reopened four youth centres in Acton – the town where he grew up – and engaged over 150 young people in skill-based learning in filmmaking, digital literacy and wellness workshops.
Outside being a leading voice in the music media space, Jamal dedicated a lot to giving back to his community and the issues he cares about. An ambassador for The Prince’s Trust (now called The Kings Trust), Jamal also co-launched the Queen’s Young Leaders initiative in 2014. He delivered masterclasses at West London College, collaborated with the Department for Education to promote apprenticeships, and mentored students at the University of Sussex as an Entrepreneur in Residence.
Having a platform comes with great responsibility and Jamal used his for highlighting important narratives. In 2017, he produced a documentary to help break the stigma around suicide and mental health, in which he partnered with mental health charities like CALM and spoke to well known people in the UK music scene such as Dave and Sasha Keable.
Following his death in 2022, his family has launched a charity in his name, The Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust. Jamal’s mum, Brenda Edwards, and sister Tanisha Edwards builds on the work that was close to Jamal’s heart and aims to support youth mental health, life skills and prevent homelessness for under 25s. They manage several initiatives including:
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
JE Delve. This is a grassroots youth charity founded by Jamal Edwards in 2019, providing young people in Ealing with safe spaces to learn, work, and connect with creative workshops and creative programmes. Find out more.
The Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust (JESB). This charity continues Jamal Edwards' legacy by empowering young people through initiatives focused on mental health, homelessness prevention, and life skills. Learn more here.
The King’s Trust. This royal-headed charity empowers disadvantaged young people across the UK by providing access to education, training, and personal development opportunities. It supports youth to build skills, confidence, and pathways to employment or further learning. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities.
