CSJ Award Winners of 2009: SOS Gangs
- 15 years ago
This is a clip from the CSJ's Annual Awards from this July. The charity gaining the Award was SOS Gangs.
In 2000, the founder Junior Smart was given a 12 year prison sentence for high level drug offences that he committed as part of a gang. Once inside he embraced the opportunities provided by the education department and became a classroom mentor. On parole he travelled to Rochester YOI every to 'give something back' eventually finding out about the St Giles Trust and becoming a mentor for them. Form there, he was given support and structure to set up SOS gangs.
of their 50 clients on 10% re-offend, compared to the national average of 75%. The mentors who are all ex-prisoners provide 24/7 support and often become like extended family, for example, meeting them at the gates when they leave prison and providing intervention at crucial times.
In 2000, the founder Junior Smart was given a 12 year prison sentence for high level drug offences that he committed as part of a gang. Once inside he embraced the opportunities provided by the education department and became a classroom mentor. On parole he travelled to Rochester YOI every to 'give something back' eventually finding out about the St Giles Trust and becoming a mentor for them. Form there, he was given support and structure to set up SOS gangs.
of their 50 clients on 10% re-offend, compared to the national average of 75%. The mentors who are all ex-prisoners provide 24/7 support and often become like extended family, for example, meeting them at the gates when they leave prison and providing intervention at crucial times.