Yorkshire and
the Humber Celebrate Success Awards 2009
The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards
honour the achievements of disadvantaged young people supported by
The Trust who have succeeded against the odds, improved their
chances in life and had a positive impact on their local
community.
UK Coal Young
Achiever of the Year Award
Candace Mohamed
Candace struggled at school because of her dyslexia. She was
disruptive as a way of distracting attention form the fact that she
wasn’t coping well. Her relationship with her mum broke down.
By the age of 15, Candace was staying on different friends’
sofas. She started selling drugs and moved into a hostel but was
arrested and charged with drug dealing. Fortunately she didn’t
receive a custodial sentence but, after a short reconciliation with
her dad, found herself without a home or job again. She had no real
friends and without family support, found herself very
depressed.
Candace joined the Team programme which really started to change
her life. The residential took her away from her problems and she
made new friends. Her two-week placement at the Hilton Hotel gave
her the motivation to pursue a career in catering.
She’s now living independently, is confident and is at college,
studying a Professional Cooking qualification. Candace dreams of
becoming a cookery teacher.
Business Link Enterprise Award
Chris Hooper – Crazy Combat Ltd
As a teenager Chris gained a football scholarship to America and
got to the final of the NABC Schoolboy Boxing Championships. He
gained his professional boxing licence but following several
injuries, this gradually fell apart for him. Chris had no other
vocational skills.
He had been unemployed for six months when he approached The
Prince’s Trust for a low-interest loan to set up his Crazy Combat
business. From his market research he discovered that a laser-tag
attraction would appeal to a wide age range.
Similar to paint-balling, laser-tag sees groups of people fire
invisible lasers at each other in order to beat the other team,
much like Laser Quest but outside. Chris’s first premises were
within the Flamingo Land Theme Park. Chris soon realised the
potential of expanding and, working with his brother, opened second
and third sites at holiday parks in the region.
The business now employs four full-time and five part-time staff
and is currently looking at expanding to a fourth and fifth site in
2010.
Yorkshire Gold Inspiring Leaders Award
Andrew Lees & Serco, HMP & YOI
Doncaster
HMP & YOI Doncaster were the first Young Offenders Institute
to deliver Get Started with Football.
The first programme was delivered in September 2008 following a
meeting with Andrew Lees. Andrew saw the potential the programme
could make to a group of young offenders. In addition, Andrew
pushed for the prison to absorb the costs including equipment hire,
staff time and marketing. Fourteen young offenders took part in the
programme, gaining recognised FA qualifications.
The programme generated a lot of interest within the prison and
Andrew was keen that a second course should run. This time however
The Trust didn’t have any funds to run the course, but Andrew
ensured the second programme, which was delivered in March 2009,
was fully funded by the prison. So far 24 young people have
completed the programme.
Andrew has also pushed for the prison to deliver the xl
programme, which will support 18 new young people at HMP & YOI
Doncaster this year. He has also managed to get three of his
prisoners trained as xl Advisers, further promoting the training
opportunities for The Trust.
Bupa
Educational Achiever Award
Danielle Rollinson
Danielle was a resident at New Hall Young Offenders Institution.
Before going into custody, Danielle’s attendance at school was
poor, she had anger issues and drank a lot on a regular basis.
When she was 15 Danielle had moved in with her older boyfriend.
She was attending college but quit because she found hanging out
and drinking with her friends more fun. Danielle started getting
into fights, and one such fight resulted in her being sent to New
Hall.
Danielle joined the xl club but found it hard to associate with
other women. Over time she learnt that she had similarities to
other women and worked hard towards the xl Bronze Award. Once she’d
achieved this Danielle gained both her Silver and Gold xl Awards,
the first time this had happened at New Hall.
Danielle was released on her 18th birthday after a year in
custody. She moved back in with her supportive family, is waiting
to receive a college place in hairdressing, and currently has a
full-time job.
NHS Hull Community Impact Award
The Leaving Care Group
This group of young people have all been in care. They suffered
from low self-esteem and felt that society had low expectations of
them. They were aware that their achievements in life were measured
against the government initiative for Looked After Children.
The group recognised that young people in the care system make a
great deal of effort to succeed at things others take for granted.
The group applied for a Community Cash Award to celebrate the
achievements of Looked After Children and Care Leavers in
Sheffield.
They wanted to show these young people in a positive light and
contacted senior managers at the local council to encourage award
nominations. The STAR Awards Event was held at the Town Hall during
National Care Leavers week which highlighted the achievements of
young people in or leaving care.
The group were asked by the Director of Children’s Specialist
Services to organise another STAR Awards Event in 2009, and many of
the group are now mentoring younger care experienced young
people.
Yorkshire Post Volunteer of the Year Award
Dean Gee
Dean was previously supported through The Prince’s Trust. He now
works as a volunteer, supporting Young Ambassadors and running
focus groups.
It’s important for The Trust to be in tune with the young people
it supports, and Dean is someone who has brought his experience to
this challenge. He works as an Awards Assessor and has held focus
groups, gathering feedback from young people on how we can improve
the delivery of the Awards programme. Dean then produced an
invaluable report on his findings.
In the last year, Dean has joined the Young Ambassadors steering
committee in the region. He has suggested some great ideas for
recruiting more Young Ambassadors, working with staff and young
people alike.
Dean has also supported dozens of young people to receive
Development Awards and Community Cash Awards. He frequently goes
above and beyond the job description, helping the young people with
more than the financial support.
Featherstone Rovers RLFC Prince’s Trust
Staff Award
Diane Ezard
As PA to the Regional Director in Yorkshire and The Humber,
Diane consistently demonstrates The Prince’s Trust values in her
everyday work. She has been at The Trust for 14 years, making her
one of the longest serving members of staff in the region.
Diane is a popular member of staff and outstanding role model.
In addition to her primary role, she also provides additional Human
Resources support to staff in the region and has taken on an
informal mentoring role with some colleagues. The values are
paramount in the way that she engages with staff at all levels.
Never too busy to listen to the concerns of colleagues, Diane
always makes you feel important and like she has all the time in
the world for you.
Diane is calm under pressure, non-judgemental and open-minded.
She always has a ‘can do' attitude and is extremely positive about
change. Along with her obvious passion for The Trust, these
attributes greatly inspire those she comes in to contact with.