THEIR WORDS Phase 1
PHASE 1 – Brian
Brian came to the Scrubs’ Resettlement Wing via a curious route. Out in West London on ROTL (release on temporary licence) from HMP Brixton, he could not get back in time, so he asked to come into the Scrubs, where he will stay until the end of his sentence. ‘I’ve completely turned round’ he beams. ‘All my life I’ve rebelled; since I was 11, I’ve been in and out of prison, care and detention centres. Like a dog off a lead, I was always running away. But the Kairos Christian programme in Brixton changed me.
I’d always known Jesus, being brought up in a huge Catholic family, but I was too disruptive to live at home.’ Kairos was different – I got to know the Lord for myself; I’ve learned to listen, to step up and be counted. Brixton sent me on Home Leave and on terrific Away Days – to a Nehemiah rehab, the Salvation Army, a monastery and an airfield.’ Brian showered me with photographs; his proudest achievement was learning to play the bass guitar through Music in Prison.
How has Beyond the Wall helped him? ‘It’s a golden lifeline’ emphasised. ‘I was so pleased when I saw Pedro coming through the gate here – I’d met him in Brixton doing Kairos. He’s helping me sort out a job and get me somewhere to live, he’s contacting churches to support me and he’s just great when I’m having a bad day.’