From Death’s Door to Redemption: Saving Young Lives

From the Meadows to MBE: The Inspiring Journey of Marcellus Baz

Nottingham is brimming with individuals dedicated to making a positive impact, working tirelessly to build a stronger and more unified community. This is the story of one of those people.

Marcellus Baz, a name synonymous with hope and transformation in Nottingham, has dedicated his life to supporting young people and steering them away from crime and violence. His journey, however, began in the heart of The Meadows, a neighbourhood where he faced challenges that no child should ever have to endure.

“My childhood was incredibly tough,” Baz recounts. “I was surrounded by poverty, crime, and violence. I witnessed things that left deep scars.” He describes a community where positive role models were scarce, and survival often meant making difficult choices. Like many of his peers, Baz found himself entangled with the law, grappling with mental health issues, and struggling with substance misuse.

“There weren’t many positive role models, and survival became the norm,” he explains. “I got involved in things I shouldn’t have because there didn’t feel like there was another way. But those experiences shaped me.”

Recognising the root causes of issues like knife crime and drug abuse is central to Baz’s approach. He believes that simply arresting vulnerable individuals is not the solution. Instead, he advocates for addressing the underlying factors that drive people towards crime. He himself was a product of an environment lacking support and opportunity.

“One of the hardest things was watching my mum struggle with her mental health,” he shares. “As a child, you don’t always understand what’s going on, but you feel the weight of it. I saw the impact of deprivation and marginalisation first-hand and grew up in a community where people were falling through the cracks into crime, violence, poor mental health, addiction, and hopelessness.”

Baz’s life took a transformative turn when, while running from the police in The Meadows, he stumbled upon Reddington Boxing Club. There, he discovered a sense of purpose he had been desperately seeking.

“Albert Tandy, the head coach, saw something in me when very few people did,” Baz remembers. “He didn’t just invite me to train, he welcomed me into a safe space. Coaches like Errol McDonald and Danny Horrie became like older brothers, and their belief in me changed the trajectory of my life. They gave me something I never really had – guidance and consistent support.”

Boxing provided Baz with discipline, purpose, and a renewed sense of self-worth. “Boxing saved my life,” he affirms.

However, his dreams of a professional boxing career were shattered at the age of 23 when he was stabbed in an attack by four gang members. This near-fatal experience, though devastating, ultimately led him to his true calling.

“I realised that I couldn’t fight in the ring anymore, but I could fight for young people and my community,” he explains. “That injury became the turning point, the moment I chose to dedicate my life to serving others.”

Switch Up and Nottingham School of Boxing: Providing Opportunities

This realisation led to the establishment of Switch Up, a charity, and the Nottingham School of Boxing, both part of the Marcellus Baz Group. These organisations are dedicated to providing young people with opportunities that Baz himself never had.

Switch Up began with limited resources, but Baz’s unwavering belief in his mission propelled him forward. His dedication was recognised in 2016 when he was named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year’s Unsung Hero. A year later, he received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to Nottingham. More recently, he had a Nottingham tram named in his honour, a tribute he dedicated to his late mother.

Baz’s personal experiences fuel his passion for his work. “I know what it’s like to feel forgotten, written off, and misunderstood – I have lived it,” he says.

“Giving back isn’t a choice; it’s a responsibility. If my experiences can stop even one young person from going down a destructive path, it’s worth everything. These young people are full of untapped potential, and they just need someone to believe in them and walk alongside them. For me, it’s always been about the work on the ground, and I’ll keep going until every young person knows they matter and have the power to build positive futures.”

A Five-Pillar Model for Change

Today, Baz’s primary mission is to offer young people the opportunities he lacked, using a five-pillar model within Switch Up:

• Mentoring: Providing guidance and support from positive role models.
• Counselling: Addressing mental health and emotional well-being.
• Education: Supporting academic achievement and skills development.
• Employability: Equipping young people with the skills and experience needed to secure employment.
• Physical Activity: Promoting health and well-being through sport and exercise.

His work has garnered support from numerous local businesses, including the coffee chain 200 Degrees, which created a special ‘Switch Up’ coffee roast to raise funds for the organisation.

Despite facing challenges such as dwindling city council funding and increasing referrals, Baz remains optimistic about the future of Nottingham. His own journey, from a young boy in The Meadows struggling with literacy to a Member of the British Empire who has met figures ranging from Stevie Wonder to Torvill and Dean, stands as a testament to the power of hope and perseverance.

“I see so much talent, resilience, and fire in our young people,” Baz concludes. “They are crying out for purpose and opportunity, and when we invest in them properly – not just with money, but with time, love, and belief – they can do incredible things.”