Milton came to London from Uganda with his father at the age of four. He started dealing crack and heroin when he was seventeen and spent two and-a-half years in young offenders institutions.

As part of the Nacro Milestones mentoring project he was given a mentor who supported him when he was released. He is now working for a major film marketing company.

Milton says

“I came to the UK with my dad when I was four years old. I had a strict upbringing and I was a sweet well behaved kid back in primary school, but when I hit my teens I rebelled.

I was hanging around with people who were a bad influence on me. There was a lot of pressure to fit in and I started smoking weed and bunking off school. I got kicked out of home when I was 16 and eventually ended up in Portsmouth dealing heroin and crack to support myself.

Locked up

I got arrested and sentenced to four years in prison. First, they sent me to Reading Young Offenders and then Portland YOI in Dorset. While I was in Portland I got involved with the Nacro Milestones project. They introduced me to John Masters who became my mentor.

A new life

Being released was a really daunting time for me. I was scared to go into crowded places and it felt like a very big world after prison life. John was brilliant at getting me through that tough transition.

I was so desperate for a job, I would have taken anything. It was really frustrating. I spent two months sending out my CV and came close to giving up, but John’s encouragement kept me going.

Now I’ve got a job as a runner at a major film advertising company based in central London and my ambition is to become a film and TV editor.

John is still part of my life; he helps me with the little things and with the big things. He’s so much more than just a mentor, he’s a friend and a role model.”