Derrick Mason, one of Beyond Recovery’s HMP Onley Apprentices, became a certified SPARK mentoring programme facilitator after completing his training in London earlier this month.  He can now deliver the SPARK (Speaking to the Potential, Ability and Resilience inside every Kid) curriculum to teenagers and young people.

After participating in Beyond Recovery groups whilst in HMP Onley, Derrick discovered a clarity and peace of mind that was life changing. Since leaving prison 13 months ago, he has gone on to graduate from the Beyond Recovery Academy to become a brilliant facilitator.

Passionate about working with young people and helping them to avoid some of the pitfalls he encountered in his youth, Derrick decided to add SPARK mentoring programme facilitator to his list of skills. As dad to three children aged 3 to 13, working with and making a difference to young people is very close to his heart.

Derrick explained: “Jacqueline and the other Beyond Recovery facilitators had such a big impact on me in prison and I want to be able to show other people that life can be different. I loved the SPARK training. It gave me exactly what I needed – a simple and practical way of explaining things that I know will affect people.”

Beyond Recovery founder, Jacqueline Hollows, said: “We’re so proud of everything that Derrick has achieved over the last few years – from graduating as a Beyond Recovery facilitator, to speaking on a panel at the 2019 Three Principles Conference and now becoming a certified SPARK mentoring programme facilitator. We consider ourselves very lucky to have Derrick on the Beyond Recovery team, where his work with us in prison is having great impact and helping to change the lives of others. There’s no doubt that he’ll have an equally profound impact on the young people with whom he works”

Derrick hopes to start delivering the evidence-based SPARK mentoring programme to groups of children and young adults in his local community and beyond soon, with the aim of helping them to enjoy a healthier state of mind and uncover their resiliency. We wish him the very best of luck!

For more information on the SPARK mentoring programme, visit: https://sparkcurriculum.org/