Driving Social Change - Bringing Success to the Heart of the Community

Sheldon Thomas Male London United Kingdom: Like

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Male Inspirational Speak…

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Sheldon Thomas and Erica A. Murray are now friends

Apr 18

Sheldon Thomas is now friends with Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera and Leon Edwards

Oct 27, 2011

Sheldon Thomas is now friends with Stephen Ogongo and David MICHAEL

Sep 4, 2011

Sheldon Thomas is now friends with ramon george, Abigail Navarre and Paul Diamond

Aug 18, 2011

Sheldon Thomas is now friends with Samkeliso (Tandy) Dlomo and We United

Aug 16, 2011

We United left a comment for Sheldon Thomas

"Hi Sheldon Congratulations from BUC for the successful Sky interview that took place today. The work that you are doing has a positive influence on the community and our youth at large. We welcome your offer to participate in the live debate due to…"

Aug 11, 2011

Sheldon Thomas posted an album

T.A.G Training

Sheldon leads the T.A.G training on outreach to hardcore youths involved in gang violence and the distribution of drugs.

Dec 10, 2010

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Sheldon Thomas posted a photo

R U MAD Conference

Sheldon speaking about T.A.G and Gangsline

Dec 10, 2010

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Sheldon Thomas joined We United's group

Male Inspirational Speakers Network

Are you an Inspirational Speaker? Sometimes people only see the GLORY, but they dont know the STORY. If you would like the potential opportunity to speak at one of our events, this is the group to join.See More

Dec 6, 2010

6 Comments 1 Like

Sheldon Thomas joined Sonny A. Samuel's group

CHRISTIAN ENTERPRISE NETWORK

This group is for Christian business men and women who want to do business by The Book. We frequently ask: What will Jesus do in every situation we find ourselves? We are the light in the dark world of enterprise.Be Significant.Success is not enough

Dec 6, 2010

1 Comment 1 Like

Sheldon Thomas is now a member of Building United Communities

Dec 6, 2010

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Profile Information

Your Professional/Academic Profile: EDUCATION
Middlesex university BA degree Marketing and Combined Studies 2002
London Metropolitan University Certificate in Management 2006-2007
Diploma in Management 2007-2008

Your Social Profile/ just more about who you are: Sheldon has won several awards:

Emmy award for the BBC documentary “The violence must cease” 1993

The Mayor of London award for “outstanding contribution to life in London” 2004

Metropolitan Police Service Specialist Crime Directorate – Trident Commendation for “Outstanding commitment, innovation and leadership” 2008

Sheldon’s teenage years began in gang life and sound systems in the late 70s and 80s but his life changed after being shot at and experiencing first hand several killings that took place in the dance halls of the early 80s and 90s, Sheldon decided to leave his recording career behind as a reggae artist and attempt to find out the meaning to the senseless killings.

Sheldon’s research led him to the US accompanied by Bernie Grant in 1989, to speak to Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Ice Cube (Hip Hop artists & actor) to get an insight into drugs related gun violence in the ghettos of black America. On his return he began working with various gangs in many inner cities like Moss Side (Manchester), Handsworth (Birmingham), Peckham, Harlesden, Brixton, and Hackney, and here his struggles to bridge the gap between the community and the police began. He pioneered a movement called the Brother Movement, which was the catalyst used to unite the community into confronting black on black violence through music, this led to a recording contract with Island records, shortly after this the violence escalated and a young man was shot in the head next to Sheldon in a night club, this became the defining moment in Sheldon’s life.

Sheldon has successfully presented and consulted on many documentaries on the BBC, ITV, Sky 1 and Channel 4, dealing with wide and varied issues such as black on black drug related gun violence and the economic disposition of Africa. In 2007 he was asked to become a Scotland Yard/Trident Advisor, also Independent advisor to Hackney Police. Sheldon also advises several strategic committees in London on gang culture.

At present Sheldon run’s his own organization The Helping Hand Trust which works directly with gang member’s especially around extreme teenage violence giving intensive support, mentoring and gangs mediation. Sheldon’s passion for young people and broken father relationships has lead him back to his families birth place on a mission to start work with the gangs, in some of the most notorious parts of Jamaica, Trench Town, Tivoli Gardens, Rema, Maxfield Avenue, and Spanish Town where there are several murders a day. Sheldon’s inspiration has come from the late Bernie Grant, Les Isaacs, Doreen Lawrence, Richard Taylor, Jesse Jackson, Lee Jasper, Simon Woolley, David Shosanya and Sheldon’s wife Michelle who has given him unwavering support.

Under the Helping Hand Trust Sheldon has developed several programmes which are now being delivered in the prison system where he delivers workshops on addressing the root causes of violence and the mental state of young men with a strong focus on targeting black men and women entrenched in gang violence. Sheldon is now seen by many as an expert on gang culture. Sheldon has now developed an specialist outreach and dedicated mentoring team (T.A.G), as well as Gangsline the first dedicated phone line that will offer confidential support to gang members and there families as well as victims of gang violence. T.A.G’s outreach team will not only address the spiritual development of men and women in gang culture but offer practical support through a series of specially designed programs and workshops that will focus on the developing the hidden talents within each gang member, pulling out the potential success story. T.A.G will break the cycle of gang violence by focusing on the root causes of violence and re-addressing the imbalance played out in their minds, by re-focusing each young person on their ability to succeed and to maximize their dreams and aspirations.

Your Organisation:Description and Services offered: T.A.G is unique and innovative programme working face to face with prison inmates involved in gang lifestyle before they entered the prison system, young men & women involved in gang culture and inner city communities with a specific focus on black men and women who disproportionately make up gang affiliation and inmates in the prison system in the UK.

Our service aims to Build life-long relationships with young men and women caught in the grip of destructive gang culture lifestyle.

Challenge the acceptance and assimilation by young people into a destructive gang culture.

Facilitate a first of its kind confidential telephone helpline (Gangsline), manned by trained specialists providing practical advice, support and exit strategies for gang members, victims of gangs and friends and families affected by this destructive sub culture.

Deliver a “gangs exit programme” for those gang members ready to truly engage with change. Offering candidates innovative ways to confront and address destructive behavioural patterns.

Confront via a holistic and faith based initiative, the destructive mind sets within marginalised communities that are most vulnerable to initiation and active involvement within gangs.

Equip ex-gang members with the emotional, physical, financial and spiritual tools to break free from the insidious downward spiral associated with gang culture by replacing and breaking distorted value systems.

Source for gang members a credible alternative to a lifestyle plagued with crime, incarceration, drugs, murder, death, unplanned pregnancies, limited education, low paid employment, unemployment, poverty, depression and mental illnesses.

Website(s) details: www.gangsline.co.uk (under construction)

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At 0:35 on August 11, 2011, We United said…: Hi Sheldon

Congratulations from BUC for the successful Sky interview that took place today. The work that you are doing has a positive influence on the community and our youth at large.

We welcome your offer to participate in the live debate due to take place soon. Lets talk tomorrow amid your hectic schedule.

All the best.

Team BUC

Andrew