<div data-testid="main-content" id="main-content"><article><header></header><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><picture><source srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg.webp 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg.webp 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg.webp 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg.webp 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg.webp 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg.webp 976w" type="image/webp"></source><img alt="Jess Bryden and her dad Don Bryden" height="549" loading="eager" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/FE50/production/_131540156_best1.jpg 976w" width="976"></img></picture></span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>Jess Bryden is a boxing coach at the charity her dad Don Bryden set up</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="byline-block"><div><div><div><p>By Dawn Limbu &amp; Will Glennon</p><p>BBC News</p></div></div></div></div><div data-component="text-block"><p><b>An ex-gang member, who now coaches boxing, says the sport "saved her life" and gave her a purpose. </b></p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Jess Bryden, 18, from Swindon says she became exposed to criminal exploitation from as early as 12-years-old.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Wanting to save his daughter from criminality, her dad Don Bryden set up a charity called BEST - Be a Better You in 2020.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"I think I had a lucky escape. Not many people can get out of that lifestyle," said Ms Bryden.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>She says she would probably be "living on the streets" if she was still involved with gangs.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"I'd be homeless, I'd have nothing, I'd have spent all my money on drugs and I wouldn't have much to offer," she added.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Ms Bryden now works for Best as a coach, helping other young people who have been caught up in gangs and violence.</p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>Don Bryden, chief executive of Best, wants to create positive experiences for young peope</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Her dad set up the charity to creative a positive experience for young people with social and mental health barriers.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Everyone that works at BEST has been through some turmoil in their life and they've come through it. Everyone is a survivor and has got a story to tell."</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><div><p>Prince William <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-66964810">visited the charity in September</a> to hear about the work they do to improve the lives of young people.</p></div></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>The Prince of Wales spoke to Jess about her personal story and how the charity has helped her turn her life around. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"I wasn't going to let my daughter be collateral damage," said Mr Bryden, describing the ordeal his family faced.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>He explained how his daughter's mental health spiralled, and she was sectioned after attempting to end her life.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"At the time I was so high that I didn't know what was going on," said Ms Bryden</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"I knew deep down that this couldn't go on any further.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"It was either go to prison or be sectioned. If it wasn't for me being sectioned, I don't think I would have come out the other side of it."</p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><span></span></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>PA Media</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>Be a Better You provides one-to-one mentoring and sports coaching</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>After she was sectioned, Ms Bryden spent some time out of the country. She left behind her former life, with little or no access to social media.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>When she came back, she joined Best, where coach Paul Rogers took her under his wing and showed her boxing.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"It was in that sport that I actually found talent," she said.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"[I used to] fight on the streets - but turning that negative into a positive in the ring is really where I found myself."</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Through training, Ms Bryden says she is now able to apply the discipline she has learned in the gym to everyday life.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"In the gym, we really do get pushed to our absolute max. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"We're broken sometimes but I appreciate that so much because it's allowed me to find strength in myself and the discipline it teaches me."</p></div><p data-component="subheadline-block"><h2 id="Purpose" tabindex="-1"><span role="text">'Purpose'</span></h2></p><div data-component="text-block"><p>She says she has found even more strength through helping and empowering young people.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"It's giving them a purpose - that's what I was missing as a kid growing up. I didn't have a purpose until I found boxing."</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Mr Bryden says criminal exploitation is affecting young people across the country - regardless of their wealth or class.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>He says part of the problem is the closure of youth centres and lack of activities for young people to engage in.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"This is across the country. Whether you have money or not. Whether you live in affluent place or you don't.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"I would say the majority of what I've seen are middle class to upper class kids that are getting into trouble."</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><div><p><i>Follow BBC West on </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pointswest">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/bbcbristol">Twitter</a><i> and </i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/bbcwest">Instagram</a>. <i>Send your story ideas to: </i><a href="mailto:bristol@bbc.co.uk">bristol@bbc.co.uk</a></p></div></div><section data-component="related-internet-links"><p><h2>Related Internet Links</h2></p><ul role="list" spacing="responsive"><li></li></ul><p>The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.</p></section></article></div>