Following a prison sentence, Safraz knew he needed to change his lifestyle for both himself and his family.
Read his story to find out how he made positive changes with the help of The Wallich and other partner agencies.
“I was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs. I was remanded at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Cardiff until I was sentenced for five years.
Once I was sentenced, it really affected me in a negative way.
I felt angry at myself, knowing that I would be leaving my wife and four children to fend for themselves.
My youngest was only nine months old and I would miss them growing up.
I was concerned about how my family would cope without me and this made me determined to change my lifestyle for the better.
I started working in the kitchen and gained qualifications, including:
I also completed a Drugs and Alcohol Awareness course and gained further qualifications:
In February 2019, I gained my Category-D (A prison that has minimal security and allow eligible prisoners to spend most of their day away from the prison on licence to carry out work, education or for other resettlement purposes) and was transferred to an open prison.
When I arrived, I felt happy. But at the same time, I felt confused as this was the first time I had been to an open prison and didn’t know what to expect.
After my initial induction, I started working with the St Giles Trust as a Peer Advisor and I completed my Level 3 in Advice and Guidance.
I then took part in the CHASE Programme and gained the following qualifications:
In November 2019, I got a placement with The Wallich in Newport.
I started as a volunteer working with people who are homeless and people with substance misuse issues.
After eight weeks of volunteering, I was offered a full-time paid position working as a Mentor, which will remain my employment after my release.
I would like to thank all the prison staff for giving me the opportunity to get where I am today.
Everyone who comes to HMP Prescoed gets the chance to better themselves. I did and so can you.
Take this time to change your life and your future.”
“Sarfraz has been a fantastic and welcome addition to the Newport team.
He brought with him a wealth experience and knowledge that has been gained from his studies and work experience, both whilst in prison and as a volunteer.
More importantly, due to having lived experience, he can relate to clients that often have complex, chaotic lifestyles and subsequent needs.
He is able to offer a level of support that is both respected and appreciated by the client.”
