Justin Rollins, once a member of a notorious London gang, delivered a compelling lecture to our students, sharing his journey from a troubled youth to a sought-after public speaker. His talk, which focused on gang crime, knife crime, and mental health, captivated students and staff alike.
Robert O’Connor, Criminology Course Leader, praised the lecture, stating: “It was a fascinating talk from Justin, who captured the attention of our students from the start. We hear stories about knife crime and gangs all the time in the media, but it is something else to be given such a raw account from someone who was part of a notorious gang in London.”
Students were deeply moved by Justin’s story. Mathew Nixon, student, shared his thoughts: “I thought it was inspirational the way Justin turned his life around. It was very kind of him to share his story with us.”
Zara Diggle, another student, added: “I found the lecture very interesting and inspiring. One of the things I found most inspirational was that he went from spraying graffiti and being part of a gang to painting murals in prisons and talking to other offenders about his experiences. Having that authentic account made the lecture very captivating and gave me a deeper insight.”
Robert Pollock, a student, reflected on the lecture and commented: “”I think it’s amazing that Rollins managed to turn his life around despite the predicament he was deep within. His speech was insightful as it gave us an understanding of one of the ways in which people are brought into the criminal lifestyle. To add onto what Mathew said, I believe that talking about his upbringing and involvement in crime requires tremendous courage, a feat not many could pull off due to the image that he painted himself in as well as the acknowledgement that he was associated with some bad acts. Therefore, I believe that his book, and his presentations, could be great inspiration to those who are in/were in similar situations to Rollins and are trying to better themselves – potentially even tell their story too, just like Rollins does. Additionally, it proves, that despite someone’s upbringing, and life in crime, they’re not a ‘lost cause’, and they can be helped. I’m glad he had the opportunity to visit, and thinking back I do wonder what happened to the rest of the gang.”
Justin Rollins continues to make a positive impact by delivering talks at schools and colleges across the country, using his past experiences to educate and inspire young people about the realities of gang life and the importance of mental health awareness.
