“I am a serving Police Officer with GMP and have been a law trainer for new police recruits for the past six years. On Wednesday 22nd Oct I attended Leigh rugby ground to watch a presentation from the Choose Life Project which was being delivered by Steve Duffy, a Prison Officer. Also delivering an input were two people named Brian and Julie who are ex addicts. 

The session was probably the most impactive session I have ever witnessed. Steve’s delivery was superb with lots of live data to back up his PowerPoint programme, which kept all the students interested. Brian and Julie were absolutely open and honest delivering their stories, which clearly had a massive emotional effect on the students. I don’t think it is too far-fetched to say that these people have changed some Officers’ way of thinking when they next deal with drug addicts.

I believe there will be some formal feedback, but I was so impressed that I felt the need to email you direct. If there is anything that I can do to assist in your project at any stage please do not hesitate to contact me, as I believe it is in all interests to forge links with projects such as yours. Please pass on my best wishes to Brian and Julie and I am hopeful that they can continue their recovery.   Thank you”.

- PC 7202 Mike Burns

“I would just like to say a big thank you to Steve Duffy and the volunteers who attended the two day talk. On behalf of my colleagues I would like to pass on our gratitude for the experiences shared with us throughout the two days. The volunteers were very brave, and it must have been very emotional for them to share their stories with complete strangers. It has definitely changed my views and will be very beneficial in our future roles so thanks again and we wish all the volunteers every success”.

- Carla Martin, Lancashire Constabulary

“This last week I had the pleasure to meet some extremely brave individuals. Not only are they finally clean of their evil addiction, they were brave enough to stand up and tell a crowd of strangers of their own personal life stories and experiences. Nothing can change their past criminal lives, but if they can reach out and prevent the same thing from happening to another, then they are truly on their own road to recovery. The project was a great insight into the past lives/daily experiences of these individuals and if it wasn’t for their honesty, we wouldn’t be able to understand how we can help and prevent others from traveling down that same path. Keep up the good work. I am already spreading the good word of the project to other organisations hoping that they too could benefit as much as I did. Thanks. (These are my own true personal reflections) P.S Steve, you’re a real credit to the prison service!!”

- Police Officer, Lancashire Constabulary

“I attended Bryn Deva today for the Choose Life Project and two things need to be mentioned.

Firstly, I need to stress how brilliant the project was. The primary children (yrs 4+5) were ‘open jawed’ for a whole hour and the questions by the children at the end were endless -hand up after hand up after hand up!

Secondly, the school have asked that I pass on their comments on the performance directly to yourself. They thought it was ‘Powerful, Engaging and Extremely Beneficial’ for the children. The teachers were also absorbed into the project.

Overall a clear message was provided, despite the children been of such a young age. Bryn Deva has asked if this can be delivered again in the future!”

- PC 2646 Andrew Skyner

“In all my experience working in higher education, I have not encountered such emotional and enthusiastic feedback from students”.

- Dr Alana Barton, Lecturer in Critical Criminology at Edge Hill University

“This last week I had the pleasure to meet some extremely brave individuals. Not only are they finally clean of their evil addiction, they were brave enough to stand up and tell a crowd of strangers of their own personal life stories and experiences. Nothing can change their past criminal lives, but if they can reach out and prevent the same thing from happening to another, then they are truly on their own road to recovery. The project was a great insight into the past lives/daily experiences of these individuals and if it wasn’t for their honesty, we wouldn’t be able to understand how we can help and prevent others from traveling down that same path. Keep up the good work. I am already spreading the good word of the project to other organisations hoping that they too could benefit as much as I did. Thanks. (These are my own true personal reflections) P.S Steve, you’re a real credit to the prison service!!”

- Police Officer, Lancashire Constabulary

“Excellent manner with the young people, well able to engage with them, all young people commented they found it useful”.

- Alicia Grant, Education Officer, Wrexham Youth Service