Lives touched

Jay had suffered numerous traumatic experiences since the age of 15 years, when he was criminally exploited. For years he was affected by violence and he repeatedly became a victim of serious physical assaults. Jay’s relationships with his family were not good, as his mother and sister did not know how to best support him.  

Darren was 25 and leaving prison when he was referred Spark2Life by Probation. He grew up in a neighbourhood where drug dealing was commonplace. His brother was involved in a gang and at the age of 13, Darren wanted to join him. Not long after, he got caught up in serious violent incidents, one resulting in him going to prison.  

Upon being released from prison, he was placed in an area that was highly dangerous for him. His mentor worked with him, using his personal lived experience of gang violence and helped Darren to consider and choose more sustainable and positive lifestyle choices. They worked together for over a year, during which his Spark2Life mentor advocated on Darren’s behalf and leading to him moving to a safe area, where he is now thriving! 

Since then, Darren has been supported in looking for a job; he completed his CSE course and is now looking into attending a Railway course. While working with his mentor, he realised that to achieve more, he needs to feel emotionally healthy and learn how to manage his emotions in a healthier way. He then was referred to Spark2Life’s in-house counselling service where he has been attending on a weekly basis.   

Darren is now thriving and often spends time with his parents where he helps h8is dad fix cars and enjoys hanging out with his mum. 

He said to his S2L mentor: “If it was not for you I will still be on the road and selling drugs!” 

He said to his counsellor: “Thanks to counselling, I now understand how to manage my emotions. I trust my counsellor because I learnt how to trust my mentor first”.  

At just 17, Henry was made homeless following a family breakdown.  Growing up he suffered numerous adverse childhood experiences including witnessing domestic violence and being impacted by his father’s severe mental illness.  

When he was kicked out, although scared and isolated, he managed to find temporary accommodation in a local youth hostel. He was emotionally traumatised and highly vulnerable when he was then criminally exploited by several gangs and leading to him suffering a series of serious physical assaults that resulted in being hospitalised.  

To cope emotionally with his traumatic experiences, Henry developed a serious drinking problem and after a year of living like this, he was referred to Spark2Life. His mentor was patient and compassionate and gradually built a trusting relationship with Henry who slowly started to open up to him. Henry’s mentor helped him to build a positive and healthy relationship with his mum and then worked with them both as well as the housing services to help Henry return to his mum’s house and be safe. During his weekly sessions with Spark2Life, Henry learnt how to make positive decisions, choosing to stay safe and not get involved in revenge attacks or new altercations.  

His mentor helped him become work-ready, look for jobs and exit gang related activity. They completed applications together and met numerous times to help Henry raise his self-confidence. Henry’s new-found skills and confidence helped him to land a role at an events company – a job that he really enjoyed and motivated him to reduce drinking. 

In the meantime, he engaged with alcohol support services and with his mentor’s support, he agreed to attend rehab. His employer was incredibly pleased with Henry’s performance at work to the degree that they have kept his role on hold until Henry completes his rehab.  

“I am very grateful for your support!  Thank you!” 

Winston was only 18 when he witnessed the murders of his brother and then his friend. 

Unfortunately, he was involved in gang violence and experienced being chased by other young people with knives multiple times. Winston was later referred to Spark2Life and within 2 months of support he accomplished so much; he completed a CSE course and was working on becoming ready for work. He is currently preparing to learn how to drive and is developing life skills that will offer him the chance to make long-term positive choices away from violence and crime.  

Having regular sessions with a trusted adult like his Spark2Life mentor helped him to avoid attempting any revenge attacks and focus becoming ready for work and move to a safe neighbourhood. 

Alex was referred to the Spark2life Counselling service by his caseworker as he was suffering from low mood, depression and anxiety.

He was a 26-year-old male, struggling to adjust and rehabilitate following a 3-year prison sentence. Alex was unemployed, and the lack of opportunities left him unmotivated which made the decision to steer clear from crime a difficult one. He was experiencing anxiety and trust issues for those around him. Alex was also in the process of grieving his grandmother who had passed during his time in prison. This was an especially hard time for him due to the close nature of their relationship, and he struggled to process the impact this was having on him. Alex came from a close-knit, extended family however, this dynamic had changed, and he was feeling very distant from the people in his life when he first came to therapy.

Alex was a Service User of Spark2life, receiving mentorship and crime desistance, and had been referred by Lewisham Probation Service. He had previously been involved in crimes involving drugs and violence and had gang affiliations in the community however, Alex now wanted to change his life around following his years spent in prison.

Alex was offered 12 weekly, face-to-face counselling sessions. He appeared nervous and uncomfortable at the beginning of his first session, and it was clear that he did not know what to anticipate. After exploring Alex’s aims, expectations, and issues, as well as using the session to gain an understanding of his personal history, by the end of the first session Alex’s body language had completely changed and he left feeling more optimistic about the process.

During the sessions, we explored the changes that had and were taking place in Alex’s life and the emotions that were involved, to help Alex to better understand, process and navigate his feelings. Throughout the weeks Alex became more open, allowing himself to be vulnerable so that he was able to benefit from the process. Alex was discovering himself and becoming authentic, being able to make links from his past experiences to his present patterns. He was developing his strengths, as well as tools and coping strategies that allowed him to manage the challenges he was facing with a more optimistic and rationale mindset. Alex often expressed that he did not expect to find counselling a helpful as he did, and it had brought about evident changes in his mood, thought processing, and his behaviours.

Alex began to develop confidence which was previously lost because of his many setbacks, and he was challenging himself by doing things that were out of his comfort zone. He continued to regularly apply for jobs and attended interviews even when he was reluctant, even attending an employment networking event on his own. Alex was learning to encourage and motivate himself, prioritising his self-development, setting himself goals, and had signed up to courses and apprenticeships in construction.

Alex was also discovering self-care and mindfulness. He began reading, following a book I had recommended, and he made this a daily habit as well as journaling. Alex rediscovered some of his interests such as fitness and began to develop a healthier, more productive routine as well as healthier relationships, reevaluating some of his peer relationships and making better decisions. Alex continued to arrive at his sessions with a smile on his face, looking forward the session, and appearing happier and more positive each time. He also continued to work closely with his caseworker, attending regular one-to-one sessions learning about the financial market and practicing trading skills.

By the close of therapy, Alex’s levels of depression and anxiety had decreased significantly, and his growth was evident. He was able to acknowledge his progress and reflect on the process, recognising how he would continue to implement what he had learned. Alex had begun to discover his faith and lean into that also. The person that first walked into the therapy room had become a more confident, authentic, self-aware, balanced, proactive, positive and happier individual.

“Therapy helped me to process my thoughts in a clearer way. I’m now able to prioritise my thinking and not dwell on situations that are outside of my control.”

Before Spark2Life’s Support 
Joshua was well-known in their borough, largely due to their older sibling’s high-profile gang involvement and Joshua’s own connections to another local gang. This notoriety made them a frequent target for violence. At the start of the academic year, Joshua was stabbed by a rival gang member minutes after leaving their Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). Later that same month, the same gang chased Joshua while they were walking home from school with friends. 

Following these incidents, professionals within the Local Authority decided it was unsafe for Joshua to return to the school site due to serious safeguarding risks. Most of Joshua’s final school year was spent learning virtually, which proved challenging. Around the same time, Joshua and their family were relocated to another borough for safety reasons. The move left Joshua feeling isolated, without friends or connections in their new community. 

During Spark2Life’s Support 
Joshua had previously been mentored by Spark2Life at school. The Spark2Life mentor gained approval from the school to continue face-to-face mentoring sessions in Joshua’s new area. The mentor visited Joshua locally on several occasions — something Joshua said they really appreciated. 

Spark2Life also arranged a tailored IT training course for Joshua, delivered by an Spark2Life IT tutor, enabling them to gain an AQA qualification as an IT first responder. Over time, Spark2Life noticed a positive shift in Joshua’s mindset. Instead of considering illegal activities like some peers, Joshua began talking about finding a part-time job. They also showed maturity in managing their emotions about the stabbing, resisting urges for retaliation and demonstrating self-awareness when discussing life decisions. 

Joshua said:

“Before, I didn’t see much of a future for myself. Now, I’m starting to think differently about what I can do and where I can go.” 

After Spark2Life’s Support 
Joshua enrolled in college to study Construction. Spark2Life continued mentoring through Joshua’s first term to help with the transition and ensure they were settling in. Upon closing the case, Spark2Life referred Joshua to a trusted Education, Training and Employment (ETE) specialist to help them find part-time work in their chosen field. 

This is a story that could have ended in tragedy. Instead, Joshua is now building a safer, more positive future.