A boxing ring takes centre stage and behind it all, a labyrinth of training areas, back rooms and offices. Having grown up on an estate in North London where“ there wasn’ t really much to do,” Silvino was 20 when he was jailed for four years for firearms possession. When I ask if there was an epiphany, an“ I want to change” moment, while inside he shrugs,“ I just didn’ t want to be a 35-year-old punk doing nothing.‘ There was no light bulb going off or anything like that. I always considered myself a good guy. It was more to do with someone giving me an opportunity.“ It’ s like you’ re in a war-torn country. You’ re going to have to
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I love my work. I honestly love my job. I don’ t love the hours so much, but if there is a job I had to do these hours for it would be this.” do what you have to do to exist. It’ s not the same but that’ s what it felt like. This is what you’ re stuck with. School was never really my thing, and outside of that there was nothing. So when this opportunity came I took it with both hands.” Towards the end of his sentence he started getting out on day release. It was on the first of these days that he came to know of FFP, when surprising his mum didn’ t quite go to plan:“ I just assumed she was going to be home. I turned up at the house and she wasn’ t in. That’ s probably the best thing that ever happened to me.” With some cash in his pocket and time to kill he headed to the
14 FM www. exerciseregister. org