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What started off as taking a few young people to the gym as an intervention to help prevent serious youth violence grew into something we could never have imagined.

That intervention became Gym Club Aston.

Gym Club Aston which was funded by @avfcfoundation and @youthendowfund went on to engage and support hundreds of young people, using fitness as more than just exercise. It became a space for mentoring, building relationships, developing discipline and giving young people somewhere positive to belong.

So, to now receive recognition for Outstanding Contribution to Sport and Physical Activity in the Community of Aston is a real honour.

Sometimes you’re so focused on the work that still needs to be done that you don’t always stop and recognise how far you’ve come.

Thank you to Callum D and all the team for your support, and thank you to @sportbirmingham for the recognition.

But we’re not finished.

There is still so much work to be done across Aston, and we’re excited about what the future holds.
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We recently had the opportunity to do some work in HMP, and as always, it was a blessing to be able to go in and speak with the men. However, I left feeling encouraged but also very reflective.

It honestly breaks my heart knowing there are people behind those bars who just needed some help, guidance and support. For some of them, it was one decision or one moment that completely changed their life, and now they are there for a period of time.

What stood out to me was that many of the men didn’t have a clear plan for what life would look like when they came out. Some were even scared to be released because returning to everyday life and potentially going back to the same situations and environments can be really daunting.

It has left me thinking about what we can do to support people when they leave prison. It has also made me reflect on the young people we are working with now because we never want them to end up there. We want to help them make better decisions, understand the consequences of their actions and recognise that they have other options.

I just want to encourage anyone who may be going down the wrong path to really think about the decisions they are making. Sometimes, it only takes one decision or one moment to completely change your life.

You don’t truly understand what it feels like to lose your freedom until you are on the other side of those bars.

Please think about what you’re doing. Your future matters.

#MADECIC #YouthMentoring #EarlyIntervention #YouthWork #PrisonRehabilitation SecondChances
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