Sunday 19 July

Alec's story (2). He's 16. After yesterday's from the Evening Standard, here it is in his own words:

I got referred by my school as I was in trouble all the time - rude, aggressive and violent sometimes to the teachers. When they first said I had to go to Fairbridge I said "hell no, I won’t know anyone".

Fairbridge wasn’t like school though – we were active all the time and not kept in rooms. I was pretty shaky when I went first went on Access – but we did things like rock climbing, team building activities and different sports.

I started coming two days a week and my results at school began improving. I did loads of new stuff – conservation, museum visits, even dancing. ‘Can Cook, Will Cook’ was good – before I couldn’t cook for myself and now I can make a four-course meal! I also did ‘Smoke It, Know It’ – looking at drugs and the effect they can have on you. I used to smoke weed a lot and I realised I’m not untouchable and could get in serious trouble for drugs.

I don’t smoke weed at all anymore. It’s really hard as it’s everywhere. Before I could never be bothered to do anything but now I’m more active and see a future. Its difficult growing up round here. To go to college, to do well is seen as a negative thing. Where I live you have only one route – drugs and violence. The only other way is to isolate yourself or else you’ll go down.

I recently went on Spirit [more anon, Ed]. I was really angry at first but then I started seeing it as an opportunity to make some changes. You have to work as a team on that boat – if you don’t cooperate then it will sink, kind of like the decisions you make in life.

The main things I’ve been working on are my patience and communication skills. Before I came to Fairbridge I never used to talk properly – I used to swear all the time and saw everything as a big joke. Now I have a lot more respect for people. Things aren’t perfect and I can still be a bit fighty, but my patience has definitely improved.

At Fairbridge you get to meet people like you – especially the staff. I’ve had help to write my application and you can have a laugh while still learning stuff – there’s a lot of encouragement. I’ve recently started a part-time college course in Childcare. I’ve also been doing the Cadets and since being at Fairbridge my level of commitment has really gone up. I’ve even just got through the first round into the Marines.

If there was no Fairbridge to pick me up when I was at school prison would’ve been my future. I was playing with guns and knives, stealing cars, running from the police. Fairbridge is place for kids to go who are having problems on the street – you can evaluate your life away from all the negativity and you can make real positive changes.

Total for the day: Nothing, zero, zilch, nada, niente... Must try harder. Total stays at £10,828.33.