Six ‘Voices of Incredible People’ (VIPs) were invited to share their inspirational coaching stories to a group of partners, leaders, coaches and participants at an event hosted by UK Coaching and Sport England to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the Coaching Plan for England.
While their individual motivations for starting out in coaching are as diverse as their backgrounds, there was a common theme running through the compelling collection of personal journeys: the transformational power of coaching.
We believe it is incumbent on the industry to spread empowering stories like the ones told by our six VIPs, as not only are they Incredible People but also Very Influential People, who can raise awareness of the importance of coaching through the emotional impact generated by their experiences.
Marcellus Baz, born and raised in an underprivileged area of Nottingham, has faced many challenges. Despite his tough upbringing and criminal past, Marcellus has defied all the odds and turned his life around.
From being in criminal gangs, being involved in a serious knife attack that ruined his prospects as a professional boxer and suffering from depression, he has created two organisations: Switch Up and Nottingham School of Boxing to help others not make the same mistakes and to lead them on the correct path.
Switch up and Nottingham School of Boxing use a combination of physical activity mentorship, counselling and education to support young vulnerable people with complex issues who may be at risk or in a life of crime to break that cycle by supporting them into education, training and employment.
His efforts and achievement in this field have been noticed by many people both locally and in wider regions. Rather than simply acknowledging these achievements – including a BBC Unsung Hero Award and being named 2017 UK Coaching Community Coach of the Year – Marcellus has used the platform this increased visibility has given him to promote transformation of young people using the power of sport.
He now splits his time between his two organisations and being a strong advocate for the rehabilitation of young offenders both locally and nationally.
This dedication and belief in building a better future for his young charges has led to Baz being recognised with a British Empire Medal. Alongside his work with Switch Up and the Nottingham School of Boxing, Baz is a renowned motivational speaker and advisor to the Home Office on knife crime prevention strategies and is a UK Coaching Ambassador.