3Pillars opens up new opportunities for young people at risk

Young people in the criminal justice system will be able to earn personal fitness qualifications and gain employment in the wellbeing industry through two new arms of the charity 3Pillars.

Founded in 2015, 3Pillars uses sports-based mentoring programmes with adults and young people who are within, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system.

The charity has successfully engaged hundreds of young people through its integrated, trauma-informed approach. Now its newly-announced arms, 3Pillars Fitness and 3Pillars Wellbeing, have expanded the development and employment opportunities participants can access.

The original 3Pillars Project will continue its vital work in mentoring young people at risk of offending through rugby, adventure and sporting programmes, while 3Pillars Fitness will provide participants with high quality personal training qualifications. They then have the opportunity to take up employed positions with 3Pillars Wellbeing, who deliver workplace fitness classes and wellbeing programmes.

3Pillars founder, Mike Crofts, said: “Our goal since the beginning has been to provide effective support to those who want to succeed by using our 3 pillars: exercise, education, ethos.

“We have developed and refined these as we have progressed, but we felt there is more we can do. Therefore, we have grown our pathway to better support those at risk of crime. The work of the Timpson Foundation has emphasised the need to offer legitimate jobs to people leaving prison.

“Participants will continue to be engaged and supported through our charity 3Pillars Project, both during our courses and afterwards, but now in addition, they can also work towards personal training qualifications on release through 3Pillars Fitness, following which we have growing employment opportunities with 3Pillars Wellbeing.

“As separate organisations to our charitable endeavours, 3Pillars Fitness and 3Pillars Wellbeing offer the highest standards of training and real jobs in the sports, health, fitness and wellbeing industry.”

The new arms of the organisation will be overseen by the same leadership and underpinned by the same ethos of empowering people to take control of their lives and decide what they want to achieve.

Operations Manager Jack Millard said: “We are offering participants the opportunity to take control of their lives as they graduate from our charity projects.

“We develop long-term relationships with our participants, and are already fortunate enough to employ graduates from of our earliest 3Pillars Project courses. We are always keen to hear from sports-based organisations and sponsors who wish to support graduates with sponsorship or work opportunities.

“Our diverse team means we can provide support that other organisations might struggle to achieve. This is a fluid pathway and we look forward to helping more people as a result.”

One 3Pillars participant turned coach, Steve, said.“Instead of being the boxer turned drug dealer, this is my chance to change my story.”