Joshua arrived in the UK age 5, speaking no English. Socially anxious and with Dyslexia which went undiagnosed until he was in his late teens and studying at Barking & Dagenham College. A talented footballer, Joshua had a trial with Manchester City but on the day he was due to secure a professional contract he suffered a shoulder injury. Angry with the world, he found solace as a member of a gang and when violence reared its head he received an eight month jail term under joint enterprise rules.
These challenges have given Joshua the impetus to change his life, and through his personal philosophy of setting small achievable goals every day, he has become a resilient and positive adult who is keen to set an example for others, especially his younger brother who has a diagnosis of Down’s Syndrome and Autism.
By July 2016 Joshua had completed his BTEC Extended Diploma in Sports at Level 3, is juggling a variety of jobs alongside a burgeoning modelling career, and has plans to set up a charity with his sister to help people with a similar diagnosis to his brother.
In 2014, Joshua was awarded a London Leadership & Peace Turnaround Award, presented at City Hall by the London Mayor.