Chris works with young disadvantaged people and helps them to engage in education & employment using the written word.

Chris Syrus, 34, has spent the past five years since leaving prison realising his dream of helping get young people into work, education or training. He now runs his own business, Syrus Consultancy C.I.C, using the arts, coupled with his personal experience, to motivate disadvantaged 13-24 year-olds nationally and in the Croydon community where he grew up.

Right at the beginning of his sentence in 2004, Chris decided to change his life and with support from PET he started an Open University degree in Psychology.

Chris said: “Studying gave me a sense of achievement; working to complete assignments every month, getting a grade and passing each time was really motivating. Continuing to read, learn and write essays also kept me focused on my goals. The fact that I achieved what I set out to do in prison helped me on release. With my business I’ve accomplished what I wanted to do 5 years ago. I continue to think like that now – I know if I set my mind on something I can do it.”

https://www.prisonerseducation.org.uk/stories/chris-syrus