Breaking Better

22 armed robberies and one decision to change. For half a lifetime, Lennox Rodgers operated in the criminal underworld in and around London and Oxford. In this searingly honest account, he gives a fascinating insider account of his experiences.

About Lennox

Lennox is regularly invited to comment on the issues of gang culture, knife crime, prison reform and youth rehabilitation by the LBC, BBC, ITN and Sky News. But this is the first time he’s set out the complete story of his descent into darkness, and the intervention that brought about his commitment to Breaking Better.

Stomach-churning, heart-breaking, eye-opening – Lennox leaves no stone unturned. In riveting detail, he recounts how he was drawn into his life of crime, how he operated as a drug dealer, enforcer and armed robber, and how he survived numerous spells in prisons including Dartmoor, Strangeways, Grendon, Oxford and Lewes. All culminating in the fateful day when, friendless, bloodied and broke, he collapsed behind an industrial bin in an alleyway off London’s Oxford Street, and saw an eerie image out of the corner of his eye.

https://www.breakingbetter.co.uk/#content4

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Refocus Steering Group

Refocus steering group support the co-design of our services.
Tia's Story

But with Refocus's help, her confidence is much stronger now… she has grown, and she can express her feelings/problems much better.
Vision, Mission and Value

Our vision is that young people will have lives in which they fulfil their potential, by making the best of their education and opportunities and engage in positive relationships and behaviours.
Our History

Refocus was started in 2005 after Lennox Rodgers, who had been in and out of prison for a period of 21 years, had been involved in gang culture, was asked to run some open discussions with a South East London gang.

Facts and figures

Delivered diversionary programmes such as prison visits 2/1500 young people from probation and pupil referral units in five different prisons Delivered early intervention workshops to over 55,000 young people, targeting small and large groups. Delivered workshops to over 3500 girls, addressing problems such as low self-esteem, gang membership risky behaviours.
Research

We had young people that had severe child protection issues where they were left at home without parents and emotionally neglected. Alcoholic parents who were violent towards young people and they were exposed to severe domestic violence.
Live on Sky News

Lennox has appeared on Sky numerous times and is very well known for talking about gang culture having lived in the criminal underworld as a drug dealer and armed robber. About 10 years ago Lennox Rodgers turned his life around and set up the Charity Refocus, along with his wife Bali. Breaking Better focuses on issues in the home that have broken down, cultural issues, racism issues and other issues that young people are facing today.

What we do

Early intervention and prevention and tackle these issues at the root. We help those most at risk through conflict resolution and to protect those from being exploited or caught up in bullying, Knife crime, peer pressure, county lines, crime, grooming, money laundering , gangs – either as victim or perpetrator.
Meet the team

Refocus also has a team of volunteers and sessional workers who are ex-offenders and from other difficult backgrounds who have turned their lives around
Mentoring

We work on a one-to-one basis and in small groups, large group PSHE lessons/Assemblies and street-based interventions. In addition we mentor young offenders in prison and develop transformative initiatives to support and empower them in prisons through therapeutic activities, motivational support, and community engagement. T
Refocus Project

Please support our cause by becoming a Friend Of Refocus.
Training/Workshops

Training young people means that the outcomes they achieve will offer greater and wider benefits beyond the short term and potentially throughout their life.
Jobs

Working for Refocus Project
Referrals and Safeguarding

Our referrals for one to one mentoring sessions come from many different sources and areas : Young people, Social services, Early Help, Parents, Police, Youth offending teams, Prisons, Community groups, Schools and Faith groups.
Early Intervention

It is well established that early intervention can significantly reduce the numbers of young people going through the criminal justice system, which starts with school exclusion and then often leads to probation and prison.
Violence Intervention Programme

Using a multiagency approach including statutory services, ex - gang members and victims of knife crime to deliver “Violence Intervention Programme” (VIP)
Live on Sky News

Lennox has appeared on Sky numerous times and is very well known for talking about gang culture having lived in the criminal underworld as a drug dealer and armed robber. About 10 years ago Lennox Rodgers turned his life around and set up the Charity Refocus, along with his wife Bali. Breaking Better focuses on issues in the home that have broken down, cultural issues, racism issues and other issues that young people are facing today.

Refocus Project

Please support our cause by becoming a Friend Of Refocus. Read more

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