Boxing champ Enzo Maccarinelli took inspiration from young people while at an event staged by Gwent Youth Offending Service.
The young people helped organise the event, which included dance and theatrical performances, and the showing of a DVD entitled 'Changes In Their Lives', which was compiled by young people on the Gwent Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP). Enzo presented them with awards for completing a range of vocational courses. Other high profile guests included Keith Towler, the children’s commissioner for Wales and Chief Constable Mike Tonge.
Most of the young people were former offenders with some subject to an ISSP which is the toughest community sentence available. Being on an ISSP means that they are expected to repair the harm done to their community and change their behaviour while under unprecedented levels of surveillance.
Enzo Maccarinelli said:
“I thought I could be an inspiration to these young people but they turned out to be an inspiration to me.”
Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, said:
“It's always a pleasure to attend events such as this one that celebrate the achievements of children and young people. This event in Newport was fantastic because it recognised the efforts of young people who have successfully overcome major hurdles.”
‘Sam’ one of the young people presented with an award said:
“It was awesome to meet Enzo and get my award. I want to be a mechanic, and the course I did should help me get a job.”
Picture: Enzo gets inspired by young people at the event. From left to right: Keith Towler, Enzo Maccarinelli, Chief Constable Mike Tonge.
(Sam’s name has been changed.)
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Notes to editors
- The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales. We work to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people under the age of 18, and to ensure that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour.
- Specifically, we advise the Secretary of State on the operation of, and standards for, the youth justice system; monitor the performance of the youth justice system; purchase places for, and place, children and young people remanded or sentenced to custody; identify and promote effective practice; make grants to local authorities or other bodies to support the development of effective practice; commission research and publish information.
- There were a mixture of awards including open college accreditation, ASDAN, parts of the Duke of Edinburgh plus various motor project and safe driving certificates.
- There are 157 youth offending teams across England and Wales and they are the key to the success of the youth justice system. There is a YOT in every local authority in England and Wales. They are made up of representatives from the police, Probation Service, social services, health, education, drugs and alcohol misuse and housing officers. Each YOT is managed by a YOT manager who is responsible for co-ordinating the work of the youth justice services. Because the YOT incorporates representatives from a wide range of services, it can respond to the needs of young offenders in a comprehensive way. The YOT identifies the needs of each young offender by assessing them with a national assessment. It identifies the specific problems that make the young person offend as well as measuring the risk they pose to others. This enables the YOT to identify suitable programmes to address the needs of the young person with the intention of preventing further offending.