You can change young lives

The Prince's Trust believe that all young people deserve to be nurtured, cared for, supported and given the chance to succeed. No matter what start they have had, young people can succeed.

Take for instance Bradley, 20 from Norwich. Here's his story;

Bradley had no money and nowhere to stay, he spent most of his nights wandering the streets until the morning, waiting for the occasional time a friend could offer him a sofa to sleep on. After an unstable and abusive childhood, Bradley fell out with his family and left home. A promised job didn't materialise and it was at the Job Centre he first heard about The Prince's Trust.

Bradley took part in Make Your Mark, a four-week employability programme run in partnership between The Trust and Marks & Spencer. This gave him something to focus on and a sense of achievement. Slowly, he began to believe in himself again and he developed confidence. He always had a smile on his face and took everything in his stride. With the support of the programme executive, he eventually got a place in a YMCA hostel.

Bradley found the perfect role for himself in the operations team at M&S. Within a safe and supportive environment, Bradley built up his knowledge of the retail sector and gaind skills to qualify him for employment. His determination to succeed shone through and he was offered a temporary contract as soon as he completed the course.

The Make Your Mark programme enabled Bradley to learn to be independent and even to provide support for other young people, experiencing difficulties similar to his own. He has continued to flourish with the company and is now a full-time, permanent member of staff. Bradley has gone on to volunteer on The Trust's programme, and act as a mentor for other young people. His current ambition is to find independent accommodation where he will feel more stable.