A FORMER amateur cricketer says he turned his life around after dedicating his life to helping vulnerable young people.

Jamie Pilling, originally from Tottington, started the organisation, JEP Youth Engagement, to help young people in need of guidance and support through difficult times.

In 2016, he was fired from his teaching job for driving while under the influence and banned from the roads.

From there, Jamie had a mental health battle with bulimia.

After reflecting on his life and future in lockdown, he was commissioned to run mental health workshops, outreach activities and one-to-one behaviour and anger management sessions with 18 to 21-year-olds across Greater Manchester.

Jamie said: “It was always my intention to start my own youth support service having experienced what I have during my life and it’s great to have now launched JEP Youth Engagement.

“I didn’t change things when I could have done and that meant I went to pretty much the lowest point before I sought help.

“It was food poisoning that brought bulimia on.

"At the time I was body-conscious having put weight on and was on social media too much.

“After I’d lost weight, due to the food poisoning, I continued to go on making myself sick and one thing led to another - it was a horrible experience.”

Jamie, who was also charged by police for three common assaults says he know uses his experiences to teach young people to avoid the same mistakes.

“It’s no secret to people who know me that I’ve had my troubles,” he added.

“On New Year’s Day in 2016 I decided to drive home while under the influence of alcohol and I hit a parked car.

“I was lucky to just get a ban and that no one was hurt.

“Since then I’ve worked very hard with my therapist to turn things around, and have become a more stable individual as a result.”

Since starting JEP Youth Engagement, Jamie has returned to his passion for cricket and represents Ramsbottom Cricket Club.

Jamie added: “We’re also running mental health workshops in schools across the region on a one-to-one basis, aimed at deviating youngsters from drug use and crime.

“My work is fundamentally about establishing relationships of trust with young people who feel they can relate to me.

“By treating every young person with the respect they deserve as an individual, rather than just another trouble person to be managed through the system, we help them to develop the skills, positive attitude and resilience they need to make a positive contribution to their lives, families and communities.

“We help them to address their challenges in a safe environment, which in turn enables them to be fully equipped with everything they need to fulfill their full potential in the future.”

For more information visit http://jepyouthengagement.com