Many young people turn to criminal activity to build a future for themselves because they believe they can’t succeed through legitimate means. Programmes delivered to support these young people often offer short-term support and do not include those with lived experience.

Since 2013, both the number of children arrested for knife crimes and the number of permanent school exclusions in England have increased.

Farhad Gohar, from Manchester, found school difficult. His dyslexia was undiagnosed and he was regularly put in detention for being late due to being a young carer. As a way to pay for essentials like clothes, Farhad became involved in local gangs. He was sent to Pakistan for six months as punishment which led to him missing out on completing his GCSEs.

After battling with depression and coming across a self-help book, he turned his life around and wants to help other at-risk young people. Drawing on his lived experiences, Farhad founded PotentialMCR to mentor and support young people at risk of joining gangs or exclusion from school, to develop their entrepreneurship skills and support them to create legitimate enterprises.

Big Change supported Farhad to develop his idea for PotentialMCR, and provided expert coaching to help him launch his organisation and introduce the project to schools.

PotentialMCR provides bespoke mentorship for young people aged 12–25 who are involved in or at risk of crime, or are at risk of exclusion from mainstream education. Mentors will be role models with lived experience, and will provide practical knowledge to help young people fulfil their potential and become advocates in their own communities.

Mentoring workshops are facilitated by an inspirational young person and focus on a range of topics - including study skills, money management and entrepreneurship - to develop young people’s life skills and promote their well-being.

Farhad’s goal is for PotentialMCR to be working with all of the 156 public schools in Greater Manchester.

Farhad is the multi award winning founder of PotentialMCR, a social enterprise that helps young people involved in or at risk of crime use their entrepreneurial skills to start a business. As a social entrepreneur, Farhad is passionate about positive social change and empowering the next generation of leaders in his local community.