You can change young lives

After a difficult start in life, Shauna reached her early twenties wanting to do something for herself but didn’t know where to start. Due to her incredible hard work and resilience, she is now training to be Youth Worker with hopes of starting a youth work degree at university next year.

Shauna was in residential care from the age of 14 and left school at the same age without qualifications. She had her first child during her teenage years and now, at 23, is mother to a seven, six and three year old. As her children began to start school, she wanted to do something for herself but, with no work experience, was unsure where to begin and found the prospect of re-entering education daunting without financial support. She joined the Prince’s Trust Team programme in May 2022 and, since then, has turned her life around.

“I applied for Team on Facebook after hearing about The Trust from a friend. Starting the course was terrifying. I didn’t cope in a proper school and hadn’t worked with people my own age since then. However, as soon as I walked in the door on the first day, the fear vanished. It felt like I was meant to be there. The team leaders were so supportive and there was no judgment so I felt confident to be myself.”

“Team helped push me out of my comfort zone, improved my self-confidence and gave me a sense of independence. Support I gained from my peers and team leaders made me realise what I was capable of. The programme flipped my life on its head and allowed me to believe in myself. It gave me the chance to start my career with support around me. It made me look at the skills and qualities I have, and identify what I needed to work on.”

As part of Team, Shauna did work experience at the local YMCA which was her favourite part of the course – she still volunteers there two days a week and they are training her to become a Youth Worker.

“I’m a care leaver and, growing up, had a lot of support workers. I now want to give back and want to be the person I wish I’d had during that time. My hope is that by becoming a youth worker one day, I can give my family the security and stability I always craved.”

“Since going on Team, the opportunities haven’t stopped and now, as a Young Ambassador, I hope there will be even more opportunities to inspire others.”

“My biggest goal in life is having a stable household for my children – it’s something I didn’t have. I want to work, show them a strong work ethic and have them come home to stability and food on the table.”