Rise above every

obstacle.

I help young people who feel lost, angry, misunderstood, or pushed aside because I used to be one of them.

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[workshop session]
FEATURED IMPACT

Why Young People Connect With Me

Young people don’t want perfect. They want real. They want someone who understands anger, confusion, embarrassment, pain, and feeling lost. They want someone who’s lived it and come out the other side.
THE FIRST STEP

My Journey & Why It Matters

I grew up in care. I moved around. I never felt settled. By 15, I was homeless. I made choices that nearly ruined my future not because I was a bad kid, but because no one ever helped me understand who I was.

Everything changed when one person believed in me before I believed in myself. That moment is the reason Against The Odds exists.

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THE BREAKTHROUGH

How I Help Young People

I work with PRUs, schools, residential homes, and youth services. This isn’t motivational speaking. This is lived experience, truth, and honest conversations.
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  • Assemblies / Keynotes: Powerful, story-led talks about choices and resilience.
  • Workshops: Small-group sessions on behaviour and confidence.
  • 6-Week Resilience Programme: A structured journey to rebuild from the inside out.
  • Mentoring: Real support and accountability.
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THE MISSION

The Mission

My mission is simple: Show young people that their past doesn’t define them their choices do. I want every young person who meets me to walk away knowing they’re not alone, they matter, and they can break negative cycles. Because if I can go from where I started to where I am now… so can they.

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Why This Works

Young people don’t respond to perfect adults they respond to someone real.

  • I speak their language: I talk openly about anger and feeling lost because I’ve lived it.
  • I understand behaviour: I recognize pain and confusion because I’ve been there.
  • Safeguarding First: I bring lived experience and professional standards (Enhanced DBS, Trauma-Informed, Safeguarding Level 2).
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Youth Speaker (Emerging)

Unfiltered stories. Real connection.

When Joel walks into a room, young people see someone who’s lived it not another professional reading from a slide. He talks openly about care, homelessness, crime and responsibility, showing how one honest decision at rock bottom can change everything.

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Workshops & Training

Lead with lived experience

Joel doesn’t speak about young people from challenging backgrounds he speaks from that background. His workshops give staff and leaders an unfiltered look at life inside the care system and on the streets, plus clear strategies to reach the ones who are hardest to reach.

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HOW I WORK

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Speaking
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Assemblies

Powerful, honest story-led talks about choices, identity, resilience and breaking cycles.

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Impact
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Workshops

Small-group sessions focused on behaviour, communication, confidence and emotional control.

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Journey
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6-Week Resilience Programme

A deep, structured programme helping young people rebuild themselves from the inside out.

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Journey
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Mentoring

Real support, real accountability and real understanding tailored to each young person.

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FAQ Straight Talk

Real questions. Honest answers.

Whether you want to know how Joel works, what he speaks about, or how to book him here are the answers. If you can't find what you need, reach out anytime.

Q1: Can you support individual behaviour plans or high-risk cases?

A: Yes. I’ve supported young people on behaviour plans and those at risk of exclusion. I work safely within your safeguarding framework.

Q2: How do you get young people engaged so quickly?

A: I don’t walk in as “a speaker.” I walk in as someone who gets it. Young people instantly recognize honesty and trust me because I'm not reading from a script.

Q3: Can your sessions reduce behaviour issues in the classroom?

A: Yes. When young people understand who they are and why they get triggered, they start making better choices immediately.

Q4: How quickly can we book you?

A: I work nationwide. If I have space, I can attend within the same week for assemblies.

Give Your Students What Joel Never Had: Real Guidance From Someone Who’s Lived It.

When a young person meets someone who’s walked the same path they’re on, everything changes.
My sessions open minds, build trust and shift direction.
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Let’s Support Your Young People

you’ll speak directly with me no automated replies, just a real conversation.