Local young person ‘over the moon’ after winning Royal award

Local young person ‘over the moon’ after winning Royal award

Julie Bean, 18, from Llanelli has wonthe HSBC Breakthrough Award today, asThe Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards came to Cardiff for the first time.

The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx &Homesense Awards recognise the achievements of disadvantaged young people in Wales who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life, had a positive impact on their local community, as well as those who have played a part in supporting the work of The Trust.

Julie, from Llanelli, experienced a difficult home life.

“I am part of a large family and wasn’t allowed many of the privileges my siblings enjoyed; I don’t know why I was treated differently, but it made me feel like an outcast in my own home.”

Despite the challenges faced at home, Julie managed to complete her college course. As she finished, a careers advisor suggested she sign up to Team, a 12-week Prince’s Trust programme that builds the confidence, employability skills and self-esteem of unemployed young people.

“I couldn’t even make eye contact with other people when I first joined Team, but after a few hours I felt less anxious and started joining in with all the activities.”

“One of the best things about Team was our residential – I hadn’t laughed so much in years! But the excitement vanished as soon as we were heading home; it was the last thing I wanted to do and I was dreading what I’d have to face.”

After returning from the Team residential, Julie took a big step towards changing her future.

“I left home the following day and didn’t go back. My Team Leader helped me find emergency bedding through social services and then I went on to live in sheltered accommodation.”

Julie completed Team surrounded by friends and pursuing her passion for helping others.

“Up until Team, my life hadn’t been worth living. The Prince’s Trust and Team, particularly my Team Leader Elena, have been the making of me.”

Julie is following her passion helping other young people, and currently completing a Level 1 NVQ in Customer Service.

After receiving the award last night, Julie said:

I feel over the moon to receive this Award tonight. The Prince’s Trust has enabled me to change my life and I find it hard to put into words how I feel; it makes me so happy to see how far I’ve come.”

Ian Stuart, CEO, HSBC UK, said:

“The HSBC Breakthrough Award recognises the progress of young people who have developed new skills to enable them to take positive steps in facing their challenges and improving their lives. Julie has certainly achieved this and is a worthy winner of the award this year. Congratulations!

Today’s Welsh event was the last in a series of Prince’s Trust events across the UK, celebrating the achievements of more than 70 young people across the UK. The event in Cardiff was hosted by Emma B from Smooth FM and attended by around 300guests, volunteers and supporters of The Trust.

TK Maxx is a Platinum partner of The Prince’s Trust and has been working with them sincesince 2013, becomingone of the Trust’s largest delivery partners of the Get into Retail programme.  This two to six week course develops young people’s skills in the retail sector and supports them into positive outcomes in retail.

In 2016 Homesense, the sister company ofTK Maxx, appointed The Prince’s Trust as their national charity partner. Homesense are supporting The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme which helps vulnerableyoung people achieve in their local communities. Store associates and customers from across Homesense’s 55 storesare raising funds for the Trust through a number of in-store campaigns.

TK Maxx and Homesense are proud to have helped over 875 young people through the Get into Retail programme, and their sponsorship of the Achieve programme.

Youth charity The Prince’s Trustgives disadvantaged young people the skills and confidence to find a job.  Three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust move into work, training or education.