Knife crime campaigner releasing book in hopes of inspiring young people
All proceeds are set to be donated to local charity Increase the Peace
A Gloucester knife-crime campaigner and youth mentor is set to release a book later this month.
Delroy Ellis has been working on writing the motivational book for the past five years.
Delroy, who has severe dyslexia, teamed up with ghostwriter Christina, a friend who has written several acclaimed books for Gloucestershire.
Their collaboration began just before the COVID pandemic and over the years, their working relationship grew into a close friendship.
Initially intending to self-publish, they sent the book to a few publishers, only to receive a call halfway through last year confirming that a London-based publishing company will publish it.
The book, titled "Delroy Voice for Young People," aims to inspire and motivate young people, drawing from Delroy’s real-life experiences including involvements with crime and gangs.
He has been honest and transparent in discussing his past, with the aim of being an inspiration.
Delroy explained the personal significance of the book, particularly for his young son. He said: "For me, it’s just about putting a book on his shelf when he’s older.
“I hope that I’m an inspiration to him, and he says, ‘Wow, look at you now. I’m so proud to call you Dad.’"
Ellis went on to say he hopes the book will help others understand the challenges young people face, particularly tied to issues such as knife crime and gangs, and to encourage solutions moving forward.
All proceeds from the book will be donated to his charity Increase the Peace, which works with young people to tackle these concerns.
The book is set to be available from 29th January.