His story is no different from the thousands of children who were placed in the care system back in the 70s

Tony is the fourth eldest of six, three of his siblings were placed in the care system as well as Tony some longer than others this was due to problems at home, but for Tony he spent all his adolescent years and early twenties in the care of the local authorities there were several attempts to reunite him with his family but sadly they were unsuccessful. 

By the age of eighteen Tony had spent twelve of those years in the care system. He was placed in various homes across the county in actual fact there were :

-   Two  Foster families   

-   Six  Children's homes   

-   Two  Community homes  

-   Two  Hostels

Twelve moves before the age of eighteen the custodial sentences he received in his adolescent years and let's not forget the bag of problems that used to follow him.

As a young adult he had always expressed an interest in working with troubled young people and offenders in the same situations he had found himself in. 

Not being deterred, he formulated a plan and his first step was to gain some recognised work he volunteered to join the YMCA befriending scheme working with adults and young people with disabilities and challenging behaviour. 

In October of 96 due to his persistence

A another step closer He finally got the opportunity to join an organisation the then called youth justice team as a sessional worker under the supervision of Terry Medway the team manager. It was here he started his training which nurtured the passion he has for the work he does today.  His empathy makes it easy for young people to engage which is clear for all to see. 

Working predominantly with young males who have been before the courts age fourteen to eighteen, his tasks ranged  from supervising clients on temporary release, activity sessions with clients on supervision orders, accompanying clients to court including those placed in secure units.

He took a trip down memory lane which ended up landing him he's dream job he visited a community home he once resided at which is now a refuge for women where the former headmaster's son was working he informed Tony that a couple of members of staff were still living nearby so he paid them a visit and on one of the doors he knocked on belonging to Steve Hughes who was the woodwork and metalwork teacher who Tony got on with very well.

Didn't know at the time that he was being interviewed

He asked Tony what he was doing for work he told him he was working with the youth justice team in Cambridge as a sessional worker and then went on to explain how frustrated he was as a sessional worker at times there was plenty of work and other times not so much how he wanted to be part of the team working in a residential setting they spoke for some time.

Towards the end of Tony time with him he informed him that he was a director of a children's home that worked with vulnerable young people with an array of issues challenging, behaviour substance abuse, victims of child abuse and offenders

He said to Tony I might be able to help you there if you would like I can get somebody to contact you he could not believe his luck and a few days later he was contacted by Jeff Benton in charge of recruitment for Parkside care the conversation went well and he was asked to provide references and if they were satisfactory a time and date would be arranged for an interview with the home manager. To this day he still has the two references.

With references from youth justice team and the YMCA Tony secured a position as a (RSWIT) residential social worker in training  where he went from strength to strength. Tony then joined their crisis intervention team where it became quite clear very quickly that Tony had something to offer and became an integral part of the team.

Industry profile

Working with a variety of people at different levels :

-   Young people with learning disabilities                           

-   Adult offenders                                                           

  -   Alcohol & drug dependency                                          

-   Elderly & the frail                                                         

-   Family mediation                                                               

  -   Mental health                                                                      

-   Special care unit                                                                                                                   

-   Working with the deaf                                                       

  -   Young people & adults with disabilities                          

-   Young people with challenging behaviour                     

-   MD of a young people project

    Working with young people & adults with a variety of needs

-   Pre-course training 

    Working on a charitable community project for young people

-   Residential social worker

    Working with vulnerable young offenders with challenging and disruptive behaviour 

-   Support worker  

    Adults and young people with challenging behaviour, learning disability  

-   Homeless 

    Adults and young people with drug & alcohol dependency /substance abuse and mental health issues 

-   Youth Justice Team 

    Working with young offenders

-   Activities Coordinator 

    Working on a charitable community project for young people

It just made sense the contacts were there the time finally came to take the next step and he launched the academy task force working with the local authorities overseeing the day-to-day operation with an office team and twenty-seven support workers provide:

-   Supported Living

-   Activity-based support  

-   Family Support  

-   Supporting young people and adults in education

-   Young Offenders

-   Crisis Intervention

Tony & empathy

A product of the system from a child to adulthood living in care and being raised by the system his empathy allows him to connect at a very different level than most sharing his story and experiences weather good or bad. Tony made his first court appearance in 1976 at the age of eleven he would tell you himself yes I was taken at an early age by the local authorities from a dysfunctional home and yes I was a product of the system for a time but he did eventually arrive at that crossroads after a very long journey and made a decision that dreadful journey that leads to trouble and nowhere had to end. 

And now one of his objective is to get a particular group of young people to their crossroads earlier rather than later like it was for him.

Statistically speaking Tony would have been one of those with very little hope of achieving a life without crime due to he's precarious upbringing and lack of education mixed with the physical and mental abuse he endured at the hands of he's stepfather and people in a position of trust. Well Tony has overcome all those odds and is here working today with young people. 

He says It's a great feeling to be part of that development process and watching a troubled young person grow and develop a positive outlook after weathering the storm to change their direction.