A valued member of the St Giles Trust team has gained a prestigious accolade from The Worshipful Company of Girdlers. Shaun Blackwood, who works on a partnership project in Bexley, south London, helping high-risk offenders to rehabilitate, was awarded a Girdlers’ Medallion in recognition of his endeavours helping young people stay on a positive path.

After witnessing many young men in his Peckham barber shop getting involved in gangs and crime, Shaun was inspired to train as a Peer Advisor at St Giles Trust. He sacrificed days of paid work at his shop to undergo the Peer Advisor training. After volunteering on the SOS Project helping young people out of gangsand serious youth violence, he started his current role.

Shaun continues to work in his barber shop and mentors his young clients, persuading many of them to leave gang life and put down weapons. He was nominated by Team Leader David Jolie, himself a recent recipient of a Butler Trust commendation. David said: “Shaun’s desire to give something back – with dividends – is something we firmly believe needed to be recognised.”