Talk inspires both pupils and parents

9:42am Friday 2nd May 2008

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A KIDDERMINSTER school was visited by an inspirational ex-offender and former heroin addict who has now turned his life around and advises the Government on rehabilitation programmes.

Mark Johnson gave a talk to all 270 year 10 pupils - aged 14 to 15 - at King Charles I School. He then gave a further talk to parents and the general public in the evening.

Jackie Passey, school librarian and information resources manager, said: "It was definitely a great success. He struck a real chord with some of the pupils and they were very taken with him.

"Mark is a brave man to stand up and say what happened to him and he wanted the children to realise that he was never a victim and we all have choices in life."

She explained that feedback from parents had also been positive and many pupils had visited the library to read his autobiography, Wasted.