Channelle Whitton known as (Coach Chann), is the founder and director of Building Bricks Coaching, that specialises in providing several different types of coaching services for those who have been impacted by the Criminal Justice System. As a specialist within her field she enables transition within her clients via transformation of their mindset. She understands that self development impacts on every aspect of a person’s life via their beliefs, thoughts and actions. Additionally she encourages clients to understand the importance of taking accountability of their choices and development.

She graduated with a criminology degree in 2011 and has a wealth of lived experience of the impact of the CJS on herself and others. From a grass roots level up within ‘Prevention ‘Rehabilitation’ ‘Reintegration’ and ‘3 tier Victimisation’ she can relate to the varying challenges these present to individuals, families, communities and society as a whole.

Stating “People deserve a fair chance at life, mistakes are made, impact from other people’s actions can be brutal, dismissive and challenging no denial of that. However on the other hand actions can be taken out of love, innocence, peer pressure and a need to make ends meet, without realising and or understanding the ripple effect it will have on others and ultimately themselves. Life is not black and white but an array of colours for those who have impacted or been impacted by the CJS and its affiliates. I always knew that I wanted to make a positive impact with people’s lives, I just did not know how to implement growth and
change for a long time”.

Chann became a certified Self Development Coach in 2018 enabling transformation within clients' lives who were ready to make the changes needed, for the better life they so longed for and desired. This stemmed from her being a mentor to those who suffered from mental health as forensics,inpatients, outpatients and Recovery College (by default) several years previously. A lot of these adult clients were allotted within the spectrum of the CJS. Being privy to reports and attending meetings with interlinked but independent organisations was able to provide an in-depth insight into the infrastructure and voids that needed to be filled for individuals..

Since Covid Chann has worked in several sectors coaching both young people and adults. From Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) to which she resonated with her younger self and the multifaceted elements of implications and organisations involved within their life structure family unit and community. Special Educational Needs (SEN) school which was an eye opener for her regarding the characters of the students and the challenges they faced. Not only with the educational element but that of a cultural and societal impact, having special made them and their families more susceptible to be impacted by the lineage of the CJS and
its affiliates.

Additionally she has spent time working in Parents and children’s units under ward of court and young people who were under the care of social services in residential homes or in hospitals. These experiences allowed her to add another layer to her knowledge and experience on how people are impacted before, during and after being in these institutions and their self development.

Chann taking this route has given her a broader experience of adults, young people, their family and community (Indeed training and certificates also) into who she truly wanted to serve. Making a transformation to their lives from a criminological aspect. Helping those who've been knocked down to get back up again. Hence she understands change starts with self development and empowerment and that’s where we need to begin.