‘It’s been there every step’
Entrepreneur talks about his long history with his local newspaper
FOR Gethin Jones, The News has reflected his life for 50 years – reporting the good and bad.
Gethin, from Southsea, runs a successful business Unlocking Potential, helping to rehabilitate offenders – something Gethin knows only too well.
After a spell of offending, he turned his life around and now he is helping others. And it’s a story that The News has followed every step of the way.
Gethin said: ‘I have been in The News a few times over the years. When I was five years old, I was run over by a double-decker bus and I was in the paper then. I was also pictured playing in the adventure playground in Landport in the 70s.’
As well as Gethin’s early appearances, he was also named in the court round-up.
He said: ‘I used to look at the court round-up to see what my mates had been up to. There’s a long history with The News, both good and bad. These days it’s more good though.’
In more recent times, The News has reported on Gethin’s success, as he launched his business, got involved with charity, completed fundraisers and used his experience to write two books – the latest one published in January.
Gethin said: ‘When I launched my business working with prisons, helping people to turn their lives around, it was really good to be in the paper as that was the start of my journey.
‘Then The News has supported me in different ways. It’s reported on my business, and my charity work for Flying Solo and it pictured me doing headstands on the top of the Three Peaks for charity.
‘It also reported on my crowdfunding campaign. My first target was £5,000, but after appearing in The News I increased that to £10,000, then with added match funding, I ended up raising £16,000 helping me to deliver my programme to prisons across the country.
'Being in The News has raised awareness. It raised my profile, and further than just Portsmouth as the stories also went online. They were shared across LinkedIn and Twitter, it helped me reach people around the country – even the world.’
Gethin says the newspaper has always been part of his life as his mum Tina Jones, from Somers Town, is an avid reader.
He said: ‘She gets The News delivered every day and it makes her day to see me in it.'