We are delighted to announce that Junior Smart, Founder of St Giles’s SOS Project, has been awarded a Fellowship of the City & Guilds Foundation.
This is in recognition of Junior’s outstanding achievements in his field and the contribution he has made to enhance the profile of vocational and educational training.
From a place of personal adversity to becoming a national voice for youth justice reform, Junior’s journey is a powerful reminder of what happens when purpose meets action. His Fellowship acknowledges not only his achievements but the wider impact of vocational training, mentoring, and belief in people too often overlooked by society.
As a City & Guilds Fellow, Junior joins a respected network of changemakers — including Prisons Minister James Timpson — who are dedicated to helping those facing barriers develop skills, find purpose, and build sustainable futures.
“I am so proud to receive this recognition and would like to thank the City & Guilds Foundation for this honour,” said Junior. “It shows what can happen when people are given a second chance. This Fellowship is not just about me, it’s about the young people, the families, and the frontline staff who refuse to give up. Their strength inspires everything I do.”
He added:
“I’m genuinely looking forward to contributing in whatever way I can, especially by bringing the voice of lived experience to the conversation. Together, I believe we can continue to challenge systems, shift narratives, and create real, lasting change.”
Junior’s impact through the SOS Project, supporting thousands of young people affected by violence and exploitation, continues to shape policy and practice across the UK. His recognition by City & Guilds is a tribute to how far he, and those he represents, have come.