Ex-offender is praised for his contribution to reducing crime

By Davina Hyde

An ex-offender has been recognised for his contribution to crime reduction mentoring.

Jay Adam, a mentoring officer with Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT), was highly commended in October’s CACT awards, for his contribution to the organisation’s Street Violence Ruins Lives work.

More than 9,000 hours of crime reduction mentoring took place last year in partnership with the London Borough of Bexley, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Mayor of London, the Premier League and Peabody Trust.

While Jay was in prison, he did a programme that made him realise he needed to get his life on track.  He did a course with another community trust before he joined CACT.  Since joining CACT he has gone from strength to strength.

CACT kicks and mentoring officer Jay said: “I look back to the most difficult times in my life when I was in prison.

“I understand the importance of having a mentor. I didn’t have that person in my life.

“To be nominated for the work I have done for CACT is brilliant. For me, it is deeper than that, it’s very, very rewarding and to be recognised for it feels good.”

CACT’s chief executive Jason Morgan said: “I am immensely proud of everyone at CACT for the work delivered over the past year.

“It was great to showcase some of the highlights in the CACT Awards, hosted virtually by our Ambassador Dave Berry this year.”

The community programme at Charlton Athletic was established in 1992 and became CACT in 2003.

CACT empowers communities and changes lives by improving health, education and employment and reducing crime.

Pictured top: Jay Adam