From Beneficiary to Trustee
James Crystal is a social entrepreneur whose lived experience and subsequent life transformation has provided him with a platform allowing him to use his past to help the future of others.
A few months ago he joined our board of trustees. Here’s his story from beneficiary to trustee:
“7 years ago when I was in a rehab centre shortly after being released from prison I was helped by JERICHO when they gave me an opportunity to gain some work experience to add to my blank CV. Due to my own complex issues at the time, I only lasted two days, but nonetheless JERICHO was prepared to invest in me, and had hope for me when I was in in a hopeless state.
Now I have found real hope, stability, consistency, and healing, I have been blessed with opportunities to use my darkness from yesterday to make other people's tomorrow brighter.
This is why when I was approached to consider applying to become a trustee of JERICHO I welcomed the opportunity.
Established in 1993 (the year I was born!), JERICHO provides people with work and training in their social businesses and supports via multiple social projects.
Their model is simple, but brilliant, they provide supported employment opportunities in businesses which offer great value goods and services to the local community.
I was talking to one of the managers a couple of weeks ago and he was telling me how he always aims to "surprise people with kindness", a phrase that represents JERICHO very well, and also made me consider my own life and how I can do the same.
JERICHO are breaking barriers, and changing lives and it is an absolute honour to have the opportunity to support them, in a very small way, carry out the phenomenonal, life changing work they are absolutely devoted to.”