{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/679bb883402b5d99a62e6494/6ad7267b819a15003cbb245f?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Cellmate to CEO | Abdul","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/679bb883402b5d99a62e6494/1792484612670-29007e0b-3053-49c3-a60f-b26fbbd4d979.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>In this week&#39;s episode of Cellmate To CEO, Tony is joined by Abdul Bangura, founder and CEO of aviation business ALAC Group.</p><p><br></p><p>Abdul first went to prison at 18 and served three separate sentences before being released for the last time in 2015. Determined to turn his life around, he started a healthy meal-prep business, Fresco Box, using an idea inspired by the prison kitchens. What began with a handful of customers and meals cooked in his mum&#39;s kitchen quickly grew into an award-winning business.</p><p><br></p><p>But when the pandemic brought Fresco Box to an end, Abdul found himself starting again. With no experience in aviation, he took an idea he&#39;d written down years earlier and began building what would become ALAC Group.</p><p><br></p><p>Abdul talks to Tony about the importance of mentors, transferring skills from prison into business, dealing with grief and setbacks, and why earning money legitimately has given him a greater sense of achievement than anything he experienced in his previous life.</p><p>He also discusses his latest venture, From the Wing to the Wing, which is helping people in prison develop confidence to pursue careers in aviation. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Useful links:</strong> </p><ul><li><strong><u><a href=\"https://forwardtrust.org.uk/support/employment-support/enterprise-support\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Forward Trust:</a></u></strong> Enterprise coaching, business mentoring and support for people looking to start their own business.<a href=\"http://www.forwardtrust.org.uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> </a></li><li><strong><u><a href=\"http://www.switchback.org.uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Switchback:</a></u></strong> Mentoring and practical support for young men leaving prison in London.<a href=\"http://www.switchback.org.uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> </a></li><li><strong><u><a href=\"http://www.newfuturesnetwork.gov.uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">New Futures Network:</a></u></strong> Helping people in prison access employment opportunities on release.<a href=\"http://www.newfuturesnetwork.gov.uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> </a></li><li><strong><u><a href=\"https://thealacgroup.co.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">ALAC Group: </a></u>Abdul’s aviation business, delivering highly effective component supply chain solutions to transform Global Aviation Logistics.</strong></li><li><strong><u><a href=\"https://fromthewingtothewing.info/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">From the Wing to the Wing CIC</a></u></strong>: Creating structured, technical pathways for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system into careers in aviation.</li><li><strong><u><a href=\"https://open.spotify.com/episode/4KuoVu9WCJ78JTBIAHJzdl?si=71752d3fdfae40dc\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Abdul’s Life After Prison episode</a></u></strong> with Zak and Jules </li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Contact us: </strong></p><p>If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us. </p><p>💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok </p><p>📧 Email: <u><a href=\"mailto:podcasts@prison.radio\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">podcasts@prison.radio</a></u> </p><p>✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF </p><p>🖥️ Website: <u><a href=\"https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/</a></u></p>","author_name":"Prison Radio Association"}