Mark Johnson endured severe mental and physical abuse from his father, which lead to a lifestyle of crime, drugs, and alcohol. This lifestyle lead to a life of homelessness, marginalization and Isolation. Mark overcame this lifestyle and went on to become the best-selling author of his personal memoir Wasted and founded the “user-led” charity User Voice.

Mark’s charity focuses on providing a voice for prisoner’s and former offenders by fostering dialogue between service providers and service users that is mutually beneficial, aiding rehabilitation and recovery, resulting in better and more cost-effective services.