Awards for young disadvantaged Islanders

Wednesday 17 September 2014

A group of young Islanders are off to Government House tonight for a special awards ceremony.

All ten of them have turned their lives around with the help of The Prince’s Trust and gone back into work, education or training - and four are up for awards which will be presented by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John McColl.

The event being put on by the trust and the States to celebrate the fact they have all overcome difficulties to develop new skills.

David King (21) is one of the nominees put forward for the Team award. He went on the Trust’s 12-week personal development course after being unemployed for several months. He proved to be an asset to the team during his extended work placement with the States Information Services at Cyril Le Marquand House and is now keen to continue working in an office.

David said: “I’d recommend The Prince’s Trust Team programme to anyone because it gave me back my motivation. The coordinators helped me to stand on my own two feet and made me realise that it’s down to me to make things happen. 

“When I started the scheme, I could never have seen myself working in an office but the whole experience gave me confidence to try new things.  I now know this is a role I’d like to pursue."

Alicia Mead (23) has been nominated for The Prince’s Trust Get into award. She has medical conditions that mean she has struggled with day-to-day living most of her life but the Trust’s “Get into Youth Work” has given her confidence to volunteer with the Youth Inclusion Project and she hopes to qualify one day as a youth worker and help other young people with special needs.

Regional director for The Prince’s Trust in the South Dermot Finch said: “Every day the young people who attend our programmes are making a positive difference, which is why it’s important we host events like this to recognise those who have gone the extra mile. Just like David and Alicia, every one of them has a unique story to tell of how they’ve turned their lives around, showing that with just a little support, you can go a long way.”

Last year the trust, which tackles youth unemployment, helped 210 disadvantaged young people in the Island, three out of four of them moved on into work, training or education.