After being put in care at the age of 13, one St Ann’s-born man has opened up about the struggles he has faced - and how Nottingham youth organisation Switch Up has helped him. Tishawn White said he has put "life on the streets" behind him and now has aspirations as Switch Up, where Marcellus Baz BEM is the CEO, continues to give him support.
Tishawn told Nottinghamshire Live about his life up until now. He said: "I grew up in care. I got sent there at the age of about 13 and was sent to Wales where I thought 'what am I doing all the way in Wales?' but I've spent most of my time in Nottingham.
"Before now, I was on the streets getting money. Growing up, it was hard with just my mum looking after me and three kids."
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At the age of 19, Tishawn spent time in prison for a drugs-related offence. Since then, however, he has never reoffended.
He said: "When I came out [of prison] I did boxing and I had the support but it's easy to go back to what you know, you're sat at home and you think 'I can't live like this'. When I was locked up, I had nothing and for six months after I came out, I had no ID. I couldn't work or do anything but Switch Up helped me get it all."
Tishawn added: "Here [Switch Up] has helped me with a lot of things. Self-discipline, employability skills, they helped me get a job at the ice arena."
Interested in music and art, Tishawn has a new single due out next week. Tishawn mainly makes rap and drill music and likes it because 'you can express yourself, I can talk about what I've done and what I've been through'.
Tishawn currently lives in Mansfield in shared accommodation. He said: "I want to work full-time but the place where I'm staying only houses people who work part-time - there's always a catch but I want to work.
"I can do conversions, handiwork and I've had jobs at food places." With the cost of living still affecting many people, Tishawn spoke about how he's been impacted by inflation.
He said: "Prices have gone up and up. At 10, I could go into the shop and buy a drink for 30p - now, that same drink will be £1. It's getting harder.
"Even with a job, people are struggling. I live by myself and I can't go on holiday or do my driving because it's expensive and I've got to live."
Despite being hit by the cost of living and the struggle of finding employment, Tishaw added: "I'm not getting any younger. I don't want to be in and out of jail at the age of 30 - I just want to work."
Mr Baz, CEO of Switch Up and the Nottingham School of Boxing, said: "Tishawn hasn't had that many great male role models in his life and was at risk of being groomed and exploited by people to do the wrong thing. Switch Up has always believed in him and has helped with education, getting his ID when he came out of prison and he's still getting support from us.
"One important thing is that Tishawn has never reoffended. Switch Up is like a family and when Tishawn or anyone else comes to us, we will support them.
"We've supported hundreds and hundreds of people and currently we're supporting people with their gas, electricity, clothing and more as the cost of living continues to impact people in the community."
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