After a successful sales career I found myself in the grips of addiction. This culminated in a prison sentence. As a mentor on a drug and alcohol recovery wing in prison, I became passionate about supporting and helping others who society has given up on. After my release, I recognised the difficulties faced by prison leavers. I set about forming a group of fellow prison leavers in recovery from addiction, to help other prison leavers on the day of their release. Having previously volunteered as a prison resettlement mentor for Shelter, I had experience of working with vulnerable people. As the group of prison leavers grew, so did the volume of people we supported. Release Mates had been born. In my time as a founder of Release Mates I have been involved in each area of its work. I support prison leavers with setting up benefits claims, accommodation, transport, referrals and other practical help. I have recruited a team of volunteers and have worked with other services to ensure Release Mates has the correct policies and procedures in place. The purpose of the organisation is to reduce reoffending and offer volunteering opportunities for those leaving prison. As a prison leaver with lived experience of successfully overcoming addiction and reoffending, I am frequently asked to deliver keynote speeches and talks at a wide variety of events within the criminal justice and rehabilitation arena. I am as comfortable addressing prison governors and MPs as I am fellow prison leavers.