A Fellowship Journey - 10 Years on

At its peak of operation, the Hampshire Community Court helped divert almost 200 children away from crime and prevented over 90% of them from re-offending, all with the support of around 50 youth volunteers across 5 towns/cities in Hampshire.

At lot has changed in the past ten years and I've found it to be an important milestone in which to take stock and reflect. Although I've changed careers from the one in which I undertook my Fellowship - I still contribute as a volunteer and the passion from being a Fellow is a main driver for that. That Churchillian spirit and ethos of never giving up and not being afraid to fail, gave me that spark which extinguished the self-doubt I used to have about someone from my once deprived background being capable of reaching for and achieving great things. I also still lean into the skills I acquired on my Fellowship journey such as communication, planning, research, critical thinking, partnership engagement and presenting information to name a few.

When I undertook my Fellowship learning travels, my children were toddlers and now, they are teens! They have grown up with me being a Churchill Fellow and I feel pride whenever I hear them sharing the stories I have shared with them about my Fellowship. One thing every Fellow will tell you is that standing behind them is a supportive family. Ten years on, I took my family to Los Angeles; the place I spent most of my time on my six-week Fellowship travels. I was able to show them some of the things I learned and some of the places I visited, and it was a way for me to thank them for the support they have given me.

If you are lucky like me, you'll also stay connected with some of the great people that you meet on your Churchill Fellowship. Although he is now retired, an LAPD officer I met in 2013, Pilot Sgt Malachi, invited me and my family to meet up with him once again at the LAPD Air Support Division HQ. My family and I were treated to a tour and a helicopter fly past as guests of honour. We all had a fantastic morning and it's now a shared experience that will forever bond my family and my Fellowship as this would not have happened without it.

Despite all the changes that have happened in the last ten years, one constant is that my Fellowship today remains a key part of my identity as it did back when I received the news that I was to be awarded one. And that is one of the great things, in my view, of the Churchill Fellowship. It’s something that you do once in your lifetime at a specific point in time; but it’s something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.