THE JOURNEY

I was born in Kent in 1972. I have happy memories from my childhood, but a great deal of unhappy ones too. I have been lucky to have a wonderful relationship with my Mum, Angela, and my sister, Lesley; however, life was difficult for us for a long time. Domestic violence had a negative effect on my younger life with emotional scarring that I have carried for a long time. Fortunately my mum married a great man, Mike, who helped me turn my life around. Only now, as I look deeper into my feelings, am I beginning to talk about my childhood and what it did to me.

I made mistakes when I was younger as a result of the anger, pain and confusion I experienced and wish I could turn back the clock particularly with those I may have hurt or upset when I was insensitive or hurtful. I am truly sorry for any behaviour that affected anyone I encountered in those turbulent years. Due to my experiences I am a strong supporter of the NSPCC’s ChildLine Service and am honoured to be a Patron of the NSPCC’s Team Go. I am delighted that ChildLine is a Partner Charity of BRIT.

I served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces for seventeen years, joining as a Private Soldier and retiring in March 2010 as a Major after I sustained spinal cord damage in February 2008 whilst serving on Operational Duty. The military was my life for the majority of my adulthood and I am grateful to many fellow colleagues and friends who have been constant supporters throughout the past few years and in particular, my transition to life outside the military. I am also grateful to the men and women I had the absolute pleasure to serve with, for and alongside. I remember with great fondness, the individuals, the units and formations who continue to carry out remarkable work in the service of our country.

Following my injury I felt I needed to prove I still had something to offer and launched myself into supporting the injured and the wounded as a way of dealing with my own injury. Focusing on helping others, helped me to deal with my injury, and rebuild my self-worth. I hid my emotions for a long time and didn’t take the offers of support and counselling. At the time I was not ready and I was trying hard to understand what to do with the unexpected public profile that came from my physical challenges.

When I started my challenges I did so to help others and I was not seeking a public profile, which whilst helpful with fundraising can be an overwhelming experience. Quite simply on that fateful day I was unlucky and left injured. I do not think of myself as a hero; this is a word we should use for those who deserve that extraordinary recognition, rather than use it too commonly. I am fortunate to be surrounded by good people who mentor, guide and steer me. I am grateful for all the support I have been given. Now I am moving on with my life and devoting my efforts and energy into supporting young people who face their darkest times and the charities and individuals who support them.

I founded the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) to support young people and their charities. I am a non-paid Chief Executive. I do not take a wage from my charity work as I believe those who support BRIT need to know that the work I do is not for financial gain. My personal stance continues to have a positive impact on individuals and organisations that stand by me and gift their support. I founded BRIT on the 25th November 2010 at a reception held at Downing Street by the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP. Since then, I have built a charity with a clear vision; build a Centre for Charities and for the Young People they support.

I launched BRIT on the 24th January 2011 and have spent 2011 partnering with over 40 charities whose CEOs all support me as BRIT Advisors and who agree that a BRIT Centre of Inspiration is needed. Throughout 2011, I sought advice, listened and positioned BRIT so that everything is ready for raising awareness when I launch the “BRIT 2012 Challenge” later this year.

My aspiration is to build a Centre of Inspirational Excellence for Young People Facing Adversity. Through the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT), I aim to fuse charities together by providing a hub of best practice at the BRIT Centre and to bring corporations and businesses together to provide work experience and employment support to Young People facing Adversity (who are physically or mentally disabled, deprived, have medical conditions, are injured or wounded). I am calling upon Inspirational Figures from every Sector of Society to become BRIT Mentors and use inspiration to enthuse and empower Young People who face their darkest times.

I will launch the BRIT 2012 Challenge later this year and urge the country to join me on my journey, give their support and believe that “Everything is Possible”.