Changing the lives of 2000 young people in the UK

Gemma, now 23, went into care at the age of nine when physical abuse and alcoholism was discovered at home.

At 16, memories of the past resurfaced and her usually bubbly, confident self withdrew into a dark space of depression and self-doubt. “I didn’t speak to many people, couldn’t leave the house and struggled to care for myself,” she says.

Her foster mother heard about The Prince’s Trust and felt it could help. Gemma, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, ignored her own doubts and started the Team programme.

Immediately, she was dedicated. She took on leadership responsibilities, asked for feedback throughout and boosted everyone with her infectious personality. Gemma took a proactive approach to her future, too, by seeking out a careers advisor at The Trust and cementing her ambition to become a nurse.

The Team programme, which was delivered in partnership with Great Yarmouth College, is a 12-week personal development course that gives unemployed young people the skills and confidence to find work.

“I left my comfort zone and got all my old qualities back – plus respect for myself,” she says. “The course made me realise I can do anything, no matter what my past has been. I’m so grateful for that.”

Gemma has just finished the first year of her nursing degree at Middlesex University.

“Because of The Trust, I took the leap to live away from home for the first time, which I was really worried about. It has really paid off and I couldn’t be happier living in London.”

“If I hadn’t done Team I’d still be living in Great Yarmouth, either on Jobseeker’s Allowance or in a job that made me miserable.”

Since discovering she thrives under pressure, Gemma’s long-term goal is to become a paramedic or surgical nurse. “I desperately hope to influence other children in care to follow their dreams, too,” she adds.

A difficult upbringing played havoc with Amy’s schooling, leaving her deeply suspicious of other people and depressed. The Prince’s Trust Team programme however was there to help her develop a new sense of trust, self-belief, and a positive outlook for the future.

From a very early age, life was very stressful for Amy, 19, from Wolverhampton. At five, she had the responsibility of looking after three younger siblings. Amy experienced abuse and by the time she entered care at seven, she had not attended more than a few weeks of school.

She was diagnosed with ADHD – this combined with her difficult childhood made life very difficult and Amy struggled at school. Through her teenage years she also became depressed which had a huge impact on her outlook on life and the future. Prior to joining The Prince’s Trust Team programme, which helps young people gain the skills and confidence to find work, she was feeling extremely pessimistic about her future.

Disengaged, and reluctant to get involved in any meaningful way with others, Amy made a slow start on the Team programme, but over the following 12 weeks she made remarkable progress.

Experience had taught her to be wary of people, so learning to trust others was vital. At first, Amy would look for any opportunity to be confrontational, but programme staff helped her develop techniques to stop and think before reacting to others. She was given responsibility to run sessions and help support members of the group, which put her new skills to the test and took her well out of her comfort zone. Finding that she could cope with these situations gave her confidence a big boost.

Since completing the programme, Amy feels much happier with life and is cautiously optimistic. She has been volunteering three days a week for The Prince’s Trust, and spends the other two days taking classes to improve her English and maths. Longer term, she aspires to work with young people, giving them the support like she has received from The Prince’s Trust.