Former British Olympian coming to Norfolk to help young people in care
Five-time gold medallist, Kriss Akabusi is the creator of 'Project Mackenzie'.
Last updated 20th Oct 2021
A former British Olympian is coming to Norfolk to help and inspire young people in care.
Five-time gold medallist, Kriss Akabusi is the creator of 'Project Mackenzie'.
A month-long programme, starting in November, that hopes to develop young people's skills and get into further education or employment.
Mr Akabusi told us it's vital that those being looked after in Norfolk are not forgotten:
"Norfolk is a beautiful place and has a fantastic football stadium. But I don't know how many people come out this way and deliver programmes that are seen in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow".
"It's nice that Norwich and Norfolk is not forgotten, for some young people this programme will be the first day of the rest of their lives".
He also told us that this scheme is personally very important to him:
"Project Mackenzie is named after a guy who saw my potential when I was 16 and a half years and I joined the army. People who know the name Akabusi, may not know that I was brought up in a children's home".
"At 16 and a half, I was very scared, didn't know what I was going to do and I joined the army. I met Sergeant Mackenzie and he saw my potential, got me into athletics and the rest is history."
"I want to work with the young people of Norfolk who have got a similar experience. Who have got to a stage in life where they might feel struck or aren't in education, employment or training and might just need that spark that lets them know, that we're here for you".
"I'm going to be working with people and letting them know that we're here for you and we want to help you be your better self".
He concluded by saying that this scheme is all about changing these young people's perspectives:
"I hope it will plant some seeds in some of the young people that many things are possible. It might inspire some people, eureka moment, I can do this in the here and now. Or it might be for some young people, the first time that they complete something".
"Because at the end of the four weeks I'm working with them, we will give them a diploma that says you've gone through the Project Mackenzie programme."