On the All-Things Youth Justice Project, we met with Tony Shergill, a Community Navigator from Ingeus. Tony is currently part of the Phoenix Programme which is a programme set up by the Violence Reduction Network. This Phoenix programme is based on focused deterrence. This approach was first trialled in the United States. Focussed Deterrence aims to work with members of the community including those with lived experience, probation, police, youth justice, and social services. This multi-agency approach is crucial to ensure that everyone works collaboratively to encourage those involved in criminality to desist.
Participants on this programme are offered opportunities to change and choose more productive pursuits. Those who refuse this offer and persist in criminality will experience legal enforcements in line with the relevant procedures. Within his role as a Community Navigator, Tony has the unique opportunity of sharing his experiences with participants to help dissuade them from pursuing a life of crime.
It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with the participants I’ve worked with as part of the Phoenix Programme so far. It’s been great to share my own personal experiences with the view to assist and supporting real lasting change in their lives. It’s allowed me to view my negative experiences in a more positive way, as by imparting my own experiences with them, it has given some of them hope and a newfound perspective on change being possible.
Working alongside Chikodi and Jenni has been absolutely brilliant too, as they are so invested in facilitating and supporting change in the individuals, whom most have never had the necessary support and the self-belief to change the course of their lives. They are so thorough and detailed in their approach, and will always go the extra mile, which is appreciated both by myself and the participants as you can’t fake authenticity
Tony Shergill
On this podcast, Tony shared some of his experiences as he watched his mother suffer domestic abuse at the hand of his father. Those experiences soon led to anger being harboured in his heart which led to challenges at school. Tony was eventually exploited by older men who weaponised his anger for criminal purposes. Eventually Tony found himself going through the revolving doors of prison. This continued to happen until Tony recognised that he wanted a different life. In his opinion, more investments should be poured into rehabilitating prisoners as most are there due to their adverse childhood experiences.
Although Tony still struggles with forgiving his Father, he eventually recognised that he needed to do something more positive with his life and he focussed on obtaining a degree which made both him and his parents proud. He has been able to travel to some countries and he now uses his experiences to encourage participants to examine the long-term impact of their actions on both themselves and those they love.
Click the link below to listen as we delve into this candid conversation with Tony:
If you are a business and you would like to get involved in the work that we do by providing valuable work experience/work trials, please get in touch using the email address below.
Youth Justice Project Development Manager
Chikodi Lori
chikodi@leicestershirecares.co.uk
To read about our Power to Change approach, click on the link below:
https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/our-approach/power-to-change/#:~:text=We%20believe%20our%20power%20to,city%20and%20county%20for%20all.
For more information and insight into our Youth Justice Projects click the links below:
https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/case-studies/vip-project-case-study-sb/
https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/case-studies/vip-project-case-study-hs/
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