Inspirational fitness coach

Mike Henderson is not just the charity’s fitness coach but he is also a fantastic role model for both the young and the old.

“If somebody said I would be up at 6am running in the frost in mid December, I would have laughed at them”, said Danny Baker, the charity’s Training Manager. “But you do it because it’s Mike and his mesmeric attitude and drive makes you want to better yourself”.

Mike however hasn’t had an easy time in life.

Mike has spent much of his adult time in prison and but has worked hard over the past 5 years to gain life changing and inspirational experiences to become the wonderful role model that he is today.

He also sees an opportunity to help young people in prison and goes back into prisons and young offenders institutions to help them change their attitude and help rehabilitate their lives.

Mike says, “C4C have been one of the few groups to believe in me and have helped me with the transition to keeping me in the sporting world. Prison can be a dark and lonely place but it has given me the opportunity to cleanse myself and now, I can spend my time making sure that young people don’t make the same mistakes I did”.

Mike has also been a regular face on the Sky Sports TV series, “School of Hard Knocks”, and his performances on and off the field of play as a strong leader have made him a bit of a cult figure amongst the young people as well as the staff. He is now a qualified personal trainer and by this summer will be a qualified cricket and rugby coach helping to move both our cricket and rugby programmes forward.

Mike continues his personal development within the charity and his drive, will-power and kind hearted approach to those in custody means that he will be a role model for young people from all backgrounds for years to come. Mike’s now integral part of the C4C team and his passion and ambition fits in perfectly with the charity’s inspirational and life changing work.

Mike is currently working on a C4C sport and education programme for delivery in ISIS Young Offenders prison - click here to read more and is a key part of our Dallaglio Rugby for Change programme.