About | Be Strong Project

Darren Armstrong

I am 39 years old, I have 5 children and I live in Bolton, I am an ex-offender, ex-drug addict, ex-drug dealer, ex-womaniser, ex-woman beater, ex-steroid abuser, ex-hater of society and I was a very violent angry individual and hated by lots of people.

I am none of those things now and I want to be part of the process that helps people to change their mind sets and behaviours. This is the reason why I have put the Be Strong project together.

I was homeless and living on the streets from the age of 14 years old and I was very bitter towards society until I was 28 years old, which was when I decided to go to church. Don’t ask me why because I don’t know the answer to that question, apart from that “It is all part of God’s plan”.

I was totally dependent on anti-psychotic drugs, sleeping tablets and anti-depressants all prescribed by my doctor since the age of 16 years old. After 3 months of attending church, I had given all drugs up both prescribed and recreational and I was enrolled onto a sports development & fitness course at college which lasted for 2 years and I gained a BTEC National Diploma.

During my time at college, I grew in confidence, my attitude towards life vastly improved, my faith was stronger and I felt that my life was worth living for once. So, I decided to go to University and study for a sports development degree which lasted for 3 years. I treated University like a job and would attend 5 days a week and sit in the library for hours.

In July 2009, I was awarded a BA (Hons) degree and it was one of the proudest days of my drug free life! I had actually achieved something that had ultimately taken me 5 years to accomplish.

Another amazing chapter of my life unfolded in July 2011, when I married to my fiancée who has stood by me for 9 years through all the very difficult times. If it wasn’t for her, I would either be dead or serving a long time in prison – and this has been another part of God’s plan.

The Be Strong project is a social enterprise which respects individuals’ beliefs irrespective of race, creed or colour. It is a non judgemental rehabilitation programme that will enhance your health and mental well being.

I am very passionate about helping people turn their lives around. But the decision to change ultimately needs to come from you. If you are serious about changing your life, then come and join us at the Be Strong project.

I cannot help you to change your past, but I can definitely help you change your future!

Darren Armstrong

Be Strong SAVES LIVES & THE PUBLIC PURSE!

Estimated cost per person to set up Job Seekers Allowance is over £300.

Estimated cost per person to set up Welfare-to-Work programme is over £400.

The cost of getting an adult into work through a welfare-to-work programme is over £4500.

Job seekers allowance (paid to the job seeker; not cost to the taxpayer) is over £3500 per year (age 25+).

The bill for Class A drug-related crime has hit £100billion since 1998, while the health costs have added another £10billion, according to the charity Addaction.

Each person who remained dependent on illegal drugs cost the taxpayer about £44,000.

Addaction chief executive Deborah Cameron said: 'ILLEGAL DRUG USE IS COSTING THE UK TAXPAYER £16.4BILLION A YEAR, which is more than ONE-AND-A-HALF TIMES THE COST OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN 2012!

The combined cost of general medical and psychiatric treatment, addiction services and crime amounted to £11,404 per person.

A person in temporary supported accommodation for single homeless will cost the taxpayer over £13,500 (plus £5,000 with added mental health issues).

A three month stay in prison will COST OVER £9,000

A person age 25+ claiming job seekers allowance, on a welfare-to-work programme and committing crime to feed an addiction, having spent 3 months in prison and is now living in supported accommodation and struggling with minor mental health WILL COST THE TAXPAYER OVER £47,600 IN THE FIRST YEAR!

If the person does not sustain the employment due to addiction or lacking personal development and falls back into the system these costs are repeated.

Be Strong at £150,000 per year per borough working with 60 people and successfully recovering just 5 per year will potentially SAVE THE TAXPAYER A MINIMUM OF £238,000 PER YEAR!!!!

LETS SAY THAT AGAIN: Successfully recovering just 5 people per year will potentially SAVE THE TAXPAYER A MINIMUM OF £238,000 PER YEAR!!!!

Rehabilitating just four people per year makes Be Strong financially viable to the local Council.

17 prolific priority offenders were referred in to the Be Strong project last year and 14 of them didn't go on to reoffend - that's approximately an 82% REDUCTION IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY!!