Cellmate to CEO | Haidar

In this episode, Tony talks to Haidar Razzak, co-founder of Basement Gym + Studio, an independent gym business with sites across London.

Haidar shares the journey that took him from prison to studying Mathematics at the University of Oxford and building successful businesses. He talks about losing his father at a young age, the circumstances that led to his offending, and the moment in prison that made him realise he needed to change direction.

He also reflects on rediscovering education in prison, the barriers and rejection he faced after release, and his determination to keep moving forward. From selling ice creams after leaving prison, to setting up a transport service helping families visit loved ones at HMP Wayland, studying at Oxford University, and eventually launching Basement Gym.

Haidar shares what he's learned about entrepreneurship, leadership and breaking seemingly impossible challenges down into manageable steps.

Useful organisations:

• Prisoners' Education Trust - Supporting people in prison to access distance-learning courses and educational opportunities.
• The Longford Trust - Providing scholarships and mentoring to people with convictions who want to continue their education at university.
• The King's Trust - Supporting young people to develop skills and move into employment, education or enterprises
• The Open University - Offering flexible distance-learning courses and degrees, including opportunities for people studying while in prison.
• DWRM (Doing What Really Matters) - Supporting people with lived experience of the criminal justice system into education, employment and opportunities to build a positive future.

Contact us:

If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.

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📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio

✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF

🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/

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