From December 3rd to the 10th Switchback will be ‘painting a different picture of prison release’. For this appeal we have collaborated with London artist, Fran Copeman, and we will be sharing with you some of the first-hand stories and experiences of four inspiring Trainees. Each individual and their personal story will highlight how your support will directly help our Trainees to thrive on the outside and build a life full of positive opportunities. During Big Give week all donations will be match-funded, making them worth double until we hit our target of £40,000. Please consider a donation today.
“Growing up in South London as a young boy, I got involved in a lot of petty things that I saw as fun, entertaining, and not too bad at the time. I didn’t see what I was doing as wrong or as harming other people. The peers that I grew up with encouraged me to do these things and my family were also criminally minded, so things that other people might see as a bit wild were normal for me.
“I went to prison for six years when I was 20 years old. Then I got recalled and sent back to prison for two and a half years. That was a hard time for me because I was very angry. I didn’t feel that what I’d done deserved to hold that punishment. I was so angry that I didn’t even care about coming out. It was during that time I met Hannah, my Switchback Mentor.
“On my day of release, as happy as I was to be getting out, I felt more nervous, anxious and scared of what the path held for me and what I was going to be doing next.
“The first thing I did was go and get food! I went to McDonalds and got a double cheeseburger, 20 chicken nuggets, large fries and a coke. Then I went and got steak and chips and peas. I missed my family the most when I was inside, so I went straight to see them. It was good to do the little things that you don’t even think about unless you’ve been to prison, like being able to go to the shop and get milk, using the self-checkout, and having your bedroom door open.
“Unfortunately I was almost recalled again recently. This time it was for missing a probation meeting whilst I was at work – I was sure that wasn’t allowed. I went to sleep and was depressed all night. I thought I was going to jail, and that recall was pending.
“Thankfully Hannah went on the internet and found the policies within five minutes and sent it to my probation officer. I woke up to messages from Hannah saying she’d spoken to my probation officer and explained the situation and so the recall was lifted. I was shocked at how this could happen to me and I might go back to prison after I’ve tried to build a stable life. If it wasn’t for Hannah, I’d have had to have gone through a drawn-out process.
“Since coming out I’ve settled into work as a chef. I’ve worked in a few different places like Dusty Knuckle and Mission Kitchen. I learnt things like how to cut up a fish fillet and that’s something that’s stuck with me. Another thing that Switchback has done is made me feel capable of asking for help and not making me feel silly when I do. If I come to Switchback and ask for anything, no matter how stupid it sounds, my Mentor Hannah is already working on a solution. That’s something that you don’t get in a lot of places and a lot of places will mug you off or make you feel uncomfortable.
“Switchback helped me gain a sense of wanting to be free and ‘normal’. It changed my whole perspective and the way I saw myself. Now I feel enlightened. That’s the word I’d use. That’s not a small word, it’s a big one. If you enlighten someone it’s a big change and I feel like Switchback has helped me help myself and know that I can do anything if I want to do it. Real talk.
“My plan for the future is not to go back to prison. I’m going to keep engaging with Switchback and other charities, groups and people that are positive. I want to be successful and someone that I’m happy to be.”
Please click this link to support more young men, like Devante, to live life differently and thrive today.
