Former young offender launches social enterprise and strives to help others turn their back on crime

A reformed young offender from Solihull is now striving to help other people turn their backs on crime and find a new and more positive future.

Jonathan Buswell has launched a social enterprise call Garden Gnomes which aims  to help people enjoy their gardens more by keeping them beautiful.

The 21-year-old makes a point of recruiting staff who have been given an antisocial behaviour order or who otherwise feel excluded from society.

Jonathan said: “I’m committed to building social enterprises and to helping those young people often overlooked in mainstream society.

“That’s why I started Garden Gnomes, a social enterprise which is dedicated to keeping gardens beautiful so that people can enjoy what little sun we have in Britain.

“From society’s so-called ‘bottom’, Garden Gnomes has taken me to the top of society.

“Proof, if any were needed, that young offenders give and donate positively to our community, challenging the negative stereotype.”

He said he had been inspired to get involved in social action by the police, after being arrested numerous times during his youth, and decided to turn his life around aged 15 – the last time he was arrested.

His work has taken him to Buckingham Palace, where he met Prince Charles at the launch of Step up to Serve in 2013, which runs the #iwill campaign.

Jonathan added: “I’ve reached the final of the National Entrepreneur competition when I pitched to The Duke of York and Peter Jones from BBC show Dragons’ Den.

“I’m now aiming for an UnLtd higher level award.

“I’ve also learnt key skills in public speaking and gained so much confidence in myself and my own ideas that I feel I can succeed in all areas.

“It’s a great feeling and a fantastic way to live your life.”

Read more: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/former-young-offender-launches-social-12092059