North East
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.
The Prince's Trust Celebrate Success awards ceremony took place
in front of 300 guests at The Newcastle Marriot Hotel MetroCentre
on Wednesday 21st October.
The dedicated support provided by Prince’s Trust volunteers,
partner organisations and staff throughout the North East was also
recognised at the ceremony.
Newcastle
Building Society Young Achiever of the Year Award
Karen McLaughlin
When she was 11, Karen started smoking cannabis and over time
got into amphetamines and eventually heroin.
Her friends were doing it and she wanted to know what it felt
like. She quickly developed a habit. Karen’s relationship with her
family was non-existent when she got involved with The Prince’s
Trust. Her confidence had been severely damaged by the lack of
faith from the people who were supposed to support her.
Karen was on a Maintenance Programme, a drug rehabilitation
course, when she was referred to the Team programme, run by Tyne
& Wear Fire & Rescue Service.
She thrived during those 12 weeks and her motivation and
confidence grew every day.
After Team, Karen was supported by the Respect Athlete Mentoring
Programme (RAMP). She continues to be mentored by Olympic swimmer
Nick Gillingham.
Karen is due to start work as a Substance Abuse Education Mentor
and is currently writing a research paper on substance abuse for
Sunderland City Council.
The
Northern Echo Educational Achiever Award
Terri-Leigh Remmer McManus
When Terri-Leigh first waked into the Sunderland North
Alternative Curriculum Department at Hylton Redhouse School, she
was shy and lacked confidence.
Terri-Leigh had been through a really tough period of
bereavement and turmoil. She lost two close female relatives,
mother and grandmother, in a short space of time.
This incredible upheaval resulted in Terri-Leigh feeling very
unhappy and wondering what direction her life would take. The xl
club gave Terri-Leigh somewhere to be herself, to gain
accreditation at her own pace and to rediscover her self-belief.
Despite a shaky start, dedication from her xl Adviser showed
Terri-Leigh that people wanted to help her succeed.
The structure and flexibility allowed Terri-Leigh to thrive.
She’s now confident and happy, and even asks for homework! With one
more year in the xl club, Terri-Leigh has a bright future ahead of
her.
The Federation of Small Businesses Enterprise Award
Lee Lamb – Kensho Karate
Lee was unemployed for six months before approaching The
Prince’s Trust. In 2008 Lee achieved a gold medal in karate at the
Commonwealth Games. He was determined to use the gruelling training
to give himself a better life.
He aspired to set up his own training business and with a low
interest loan from The Trust, along with the support of a mentor,
Lee was able to realise his dream. Lee’s mentor showed him how to
develop the business and in return Lee has taught him karate.
Kensho Karate club is the largest in the UK, running within
schools in the North East. It has over 400 members. In addition,
thanks to funding from Gateshead Council, Kensho offers 12 schools
free self-defence training for girls.
The club now has three instructors, all of whom are Great
Britain team members. Ten of their students have reached the Great
Britain squad, but it’s his work with young people with special
needs of which Lee is most proud.
Greggs
Community Impact Award
St Hild’s School Year 11 – Sea Safety
Project
This group of nine xl students took inspiration from their
summer holidays for their community project.
During discussions, it became apparent that they were taking
part in dangerous activities on the beach. The students invited a
lifeguard manager to talk about the dangers and she brought some
DVDs with her. They were really dated and the group decided to try
and remake them.
Using a Community Cash Award from The Prince’s Trust, the xl
club made a short film. They had support from the RNLI, St John
Ambulance, local swimming baths, shopping centres and
lifeguards.
They organised a launch event and invited local schools plus all
supporting parties. Trading Standards also attended and the film
has now been added to their list of educational films. The
Coastguards also now use it as a sea safety tool.
The group have all now gone to further education, employment or
training. They’re now able to work towards careers that they never
thought they could have.
Frank Haslam Millan Inspiring Leaders Award
HMP Kirklevington Grange Outreach Project
Kirklevington is a resettlement prison for adult male offenders.
The Outreach Project aimed to dispel the myth that prison could be
fun, through contact with the prisoners directly.
Mick Blackburn, a senior prison officer at Kirklevington, took
some serving prisoners along to the xl Adviser’s conference to talk
about the project. The project was offered to years 10 and 11, and
involved a project team visiting xl clubs in the region.
The sessions didn’t just cover prison life but they focused on
the effects of being a serving prisoner, the effects on the victims
of crime, and on the prisoner’s family and friends. The students
were given the right balance of information and were encouraged to
ask questions.
The dedication of the prison, Mick and the prisoners is what
made this project a success. The xl students listened to the
prisoners, who spoke the same language.
All involved in the project are committed to helping young
people continue in education and stay away from crime.
Meldrum
Construction Services Volunteer of the Year Award
Kay Hawkridge-Smith
Kay has been a Prince’s Trust volunteer for 28 years. She is a
Development Awards Assessor and Applications Secretary. In this
time she has helped an enormous number of young people in need of
support.
An extremely motivated and committed volunteer, Kay understands
the issues facing young people of today. As a volunteer she is able
to help them overcome the barriers of lack of experience, skills
and confidence.
Nothing is too much trouble for Kay. She has faced a great
number of changes in the 28 years she has been involved with The
Trust but has taken them all in her stride. She continues to be
exceptionally supportive and helpful.
As part of her role Kay is the first point of contact for all
awards enquiries. She sends information out to young people,
prepares paperwork for panel meetings and acts as the panel
secretary.
The help and support that Kay provides is invaluable to The
Trust and the delivery of the Awards programme in County
Durham.