Setting Captives Free
Public Speaker, Author, Mentor, Resilience Coach, Educational Partner
About organization
**Agustus Stewart** is a renowned public speaker, educational partner , and advocate, dedicated to addressing pressing societal issues such as gang culture, knife crime, county lines, and sexual exploitation. With over a decade of experience working with vulnerable communities, Agustus has become a trusted voice in raising awareness and driving change across schools, youth centres, and community organizations.
His powerful workshops and keynote presentations provide practical insights into the root causes of these issues, offering strategies for prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation. Agustus draws on both professional expertise and lived experiences, delivering talks that resonate deeply with audiences from all walks of life, particularly at-risk youth and those working with them.
Through his work, Agustus aims to break the cycle of violence and exploitation, inspiring individuals to make positive choices and empowering communities to create safer environments for young people. Passionate and empathetic, he is committed to fostering understanding and helping others take proactive steps to combat the challenges surrounding youth crime and exploitation.
Agustus Work Being recognised
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Setting Captives Free works with youth with the aim to disrupt Gang Culture & knife crime & the school to prison pipeline, by way of going into schools & delivering impactful workshops & programmes by lived experience facilitators & motivational speakers & life coaches plus mentors.
About Agustus Stewart
Agustus has a powerful testimony, which he is not ashamed of – an only child, raised in a Christian home by his mother, Agustus’ life drastically took a turn after being expelled from school and then looked to fill a void in his life which was created by his father not being present in his life. His gang of friends had become family, and he paid a high price for wanting to be loved and accepted, as he joined a friend in getting revenge for a family member.
Having been sent to prison for 12 years Agustus would have to navigate some of the worst prisons in the country, and all that prison life had to offer like, racism, violence, drugs, and suicide. There was a turning point in Agustus’ life when he became a Christian. In prison things weren’t smooth and plain sailing but it did give him hope, which was something he hadn’t had in all the years he had already spent in prison.
When released from prison Agustus began to build his life over again with the aim of using his personal life experience to help others. Agustus created Setting the Captive Free ministries in 2014 with the aim of bringing people from all walks of life into a place of wholeness and healing. For many years Agustus has used his personal experience to help those in prison, ex-offenders, the homeless and those who living a gang lifestyle or on the road to it.
With his debut autobiographical book Incarceration, Addictions and the Cross, it gives a powerful account of Agustus’ journey as a young man getting caught up in many challenging situations that would shape his life in many ways.
Agustus has been very open and transparent with his autobiography with the aim of helping others who are walking down the path Agustus has travelled and even for those who feel like they are in psychological prisons. Agustus earnest desire is that no matter what level of mess or darkness you may find yourself in, that transformation is truly possible.
Brand new book by Agustus Stewart
Incarcerations Addictions & The Cross
Incarcerations Addictions & The Cross gives a powerful account of how one bad choice can have devastating consequences that can last for years. As Agustus is sentenced to twelve years imprisonment, how will he survive going to some of the worst prisons in the country, and with a ‘contract’ that is placed on his head to kill him?
This autobiography by Agustus details what really takes place in the prison and how the prison system in in crisis. Even though one can make wrong choices with long lasting consequences, just like the thief who was on the cross next to Jesus who said “remember me when you come into your kingdom” God can still hear the cry of a criminal today as he desires to set the captives Free.
Our Services
What Service We Offer
Mentoring
Agustus has been mentoring for many years and offers a 1 to 1 mentoring & consultation service. Agustus has identified many young boys are growing up without their fathers or positive role models in their lives who can guide them and give them sound advice and support along their journey called life. It is important that young men have mentors in their lives & Agustus provides this unique service where your son can be mentored so they can walk in their full potential.
Workshops
Having experienced many things as a young man, Agustus delivers workshops based on his own personal lived experience from gang culture, knife crime, its risk, prison, the consequences of your actions, and addiction and the battle to be free.
Motivational Speaking
Agustus is a very well sought-after speaker who has had speaking engagements at universities, prisons, after school clubs and many other events. Agustus has a very powerful testimony/ story of rejection, self-abuse, loss of identity and broken relationships. With a very powerful story of transformation and great delivery style, Agustus has always had positive reviews and left audiences moved emotionally.
OFFENDER REHABILITATION PROGRAMME
The founder of Setting Captives Free is a living testament to the transformative power of rehabilitation. Once entangled in a life of crime, they experienced a profound turning point through self-reflection, mentorship, and faith. Determined to break the cycle of criminality, they charted a path to desistance, focusing on education, personal growth, and accountability.
Their passion to help others stems from their own journey, leading them to develop a comprehensive 7-step programme. This initiative provides offenders with the tools and support needed to rebuild their lives, from addressing mental health and substance abuse to offering education, mentorship, and stable housing. Today, the founder is a beacon of hope, demonstrating that with the right guidance, change is not only possible but achievable for all.
7-Step programme for Supporting Offender Desistance and Rehabilitation
Assessment and Individualized Planning
- We will conduct comprehensive assessments to understand each offender’s background, needs, risk factors, and strengths.
- Setting Captives Free will develop personalized rehabilitation plans tailored to the individual’s goals, focusing on factors like education, employment, mental health, and substance use.
Access to Education and Job Training
- Providing offenders with opportunities for education, vocational training, and skill-building.
- Partner with local businesses and community organizations to offer internships, apprenticeships, or job placements that align with the offenders’ skills and interests.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Support
- Ensuring access to counseling, therapy, and addiction treatment programmes.
- Address trauma, mental health issues, or behavioral disorders that may have contributed to criminal behavior.
Mentorship and Peer Support
- Connect offenders with mentors or support groups comprising individuals who have successfully desisted from crime.
- Foster positive relationships that promote accountability, guidance, and encouragement.
This structured plan helps offenders rebuild their lives, reduce recidivism, and contribute positively to society.
Building Pro-Social Networks
- Encourage offenders to engage in community service or social activities to build constructive relationships.
- Strengthen family ties and facilitate reintegration into supportive communities.
Stable Housing and Financial Assistance
- Assist offenders in finding safe, affordable housing to reduce the risk of homelessness.
- Provide financial literacy programmes and access to resources like grants or loans to support long-term stability.
Monitoring, Feedback, and Long-Term Support.
- Implement regular progress reviews and adjust rehabilitation plans as necessary.
- Offer long-term support to ensure sustained desistance, such as follow-up counseling, ongoing mentorship, and access to community resources.
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Clients Feedback
What They Say About the Book
Reviewed in the UK, on February 12, 2020
I was on amazon and I came across this book. Something about this book made me want to get it, so I brought it and received it yesterday. I literally sat down and read the whole book. This book I highly recommend for prisons, schools, youth centres. Everyone needs to read this book. It was very captivating I literally could not put the book down and just wanted to continue reading. I have never read a book so powerful apart from the bible, while I was reading this book it was like I could picture what was happening as I was reading. Great and powerful book. It is a shame because a lot of absent fathers don’t realise the impact on not being in their children's life and how it can affect them so bad whether at a young age or adult it still can affect them. Thank you for writing this book. Its needed. May God continue to bless you.
Reviewed in the UK, on December 4th, 2019
A journey with some uncomfortable bumps Reviewed in the UK, on February 12, 2020 The product arrived promptly appropriate packaging, so the condition was good. Agustus offers an insight into his journey from childhood, going to prison still a child/young person at 17 and sadly returning into a world he no longer recognised physically emotionally as a man. The brutality he experienced "has no words I could articulate" but frighten he captured which shows a young man in physical and emotional turmoil. Agustus' message to other young people is scary as this is not about growing up on the "wrong" side of the tracks but children/young people feeling an emotional hole in their lives and filling it with people who exploit this vulnerability with ... friendships, love, fast money, sex, safety, cars, travel. All we have is each other! Well Agustus when it came down to it had "Me Myself and I (the Cross) " May his journey continue, and success appear in the difference he makes in others through Gods will.