A social entrepreneur who was raised in poverty in Bolton was put in care and spent years “in and out of prison”. But now, Sam Smith is giving young people opportunities he never had. One of four children, the 52-year-old had a difficult start to life, growing up in the care system.
Sam said: “For five years, I was passed around from children’s home to children’s home, moving through three primary schools before the age of 11. “When I was living with foster parents, I got in with the wrong crowd, running away many times and getting in trouble with the police, sometimes sleeping on the streets. “At 14, I found myself in youth custody.
“From 14 to 23, I was in and out of youth custody and prison . All my teenage and young adult years, really. Genuine Futures Steering group committee (Left to right: Mike Alleyne, Gemma Anyon, John Wright, Sam Smith, Julie Wiggs and Sue Willet) (Image: Genuine Futures CIC) “This included Strangeways prison, where I was in the middle of some of the worst-ever riots and convinced I was going to burn to death.
“The prison cycle was hard to break because of the negative influences around me. “When I left, I couldn’t maintain a regular life." In another traumatic experience, he said he also found the body of his only brother.
Then at the age of 23, Sam’s son was born. He said: “As I held my baby, I decided I was not going to let him be subjected to the same life I had. “My partner, my son and I packed up and left Bolton w.
