Testimonials

Testimonial 4.

by TestimonialWayne Hill

I finally have a moment to properly express my gratitude.

What can I say? No words seem enough to thank you for everything you’ve done for us. You were there every step of the way, always listening, understanding my desperate situation, and calming me down. You weren’t just a mentor; you became a brother, a friend, a therapist, and a father figure—all in one.

Your support, motivational words, and encouragement helped both me and my son fight through each day, assuring us that things would eventually get better.

There were times I didn’t want to hear anyone’s voice, but you would always come over and show kindness, especially to a boy accused of attempted murder. You gave him the strength to continue being a good person, and you gave me, as a mother, the courage to be the mother I always wanted to be.

You helped us with everything—schools, college, housing, even ideas for my work. You taught me how to take things day by day. I admire you so much, Wayne. Honestly, if it weren’t for you, I don’t know if I would be here today to say all this. You literally pulled me out of a dark place.

It’s funny how I felt so wronged by the justice system, yet I’m so grateful at the same time because it led me to you.

You turned our world right-side up when everything was upside down. To my son, you were the father he never had and a true friend. He is the person he is today because of you and the team.

Thank you so much. Please keep being the amazing person you are, because you have a unique ability to help others, showing honesty and good intentions. For people like us, who were lost and found it hard to trust, you made a difference. You listened when we were afraid to speak, gave us confidence, and showed us what could be done without adding to our distress.

We love you, Wayne. Keep up the good work. I hope you understand my words, even though I might not always express myself perfectly.

I’m so grateful to have had the luck of having you and your team help us on this journey. No matter what the future holds, I hope we can stay in touch.

With gratitude,

wayne

Wayne Hill
Lead Serious Youth Violence & Gang Exit Specialist

by Team MembersWayne Hill
The Team / Wayne
Lead Serious Youth Violence & Gang Exit Specialist

Wayne.

Wayne leads our work on serious youth violence and gang exit, with more than 25 years spent alongside the young people others have given up on.

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Wayne, Lead Serious Youth Violence and Gang Exit Specialist at Youth Unity
25+ years

At the forefront of tackling youth violence and gang exploitation in our communities.

01

At the forefront

Wayne is a dedicated and passionate advocate in the field of serious youth violence and gang exit work. With over 25 years of experience, he has been at the forefront of efforts to address the impact of youth violence and gang-related harm within our communities.

Having witnessed first-hand the devastating consequences of youth violence, Wayne has committed his career to creating positive change and providing real alternatives for young people at risk. He has designed and delivered intervention programmes that prevent young people being drawn into gangs, and that support those who want to leave that life behind.

02

The ones others give up on

At Youth Unity, Wayne leads our mentoring for young people affected by serious youth violence. He has spent more than three decades working closely with the young people who are hardest to reach and hardest to engage, and he keeps going where others step back. His approach is trauma-informed: he understands that behaviour which looks like defiance is often a response to what a young person has lived through, and he works with that reality rather than against it.

That persistence gets results. Wayne has an outstanding track record of achievements with the young people he has worked with, and his determination to guide each one towards a better future is what defines him.

A way out, and someone to walk it with.
03

Trauma-informed, contextual safeguarding

Wayne’s expertise extends to contextual safeguarding: understanding the risks young people face beyond the family home, on the street, online and among their peers. He built that insight over many years working in children’s care homes, where those risks are often at their sharpest.

It means he sees the whole picture around a young person, not just the behaviour in front of him, and he can work with families, schools and services to change the environment as well as the individual.

04

Why it matters

Gang exit work is demanding, slow and often unseen. Wayne takes on those responsibilities with skill and real commitment, and the young people he supports know they have someone in their corner for as long as it takes.

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