Lisa named winner of a Royal Award
Sutton Coldfield College has congratulated a Great Barr woman for winning a prestigious award at The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx Celebrate Success Awards. 24 year old Lisa Case from Great Barr had completed a Prince’s Trust Team programme at the college.
She received the Delta Airline Rising Award at a red carpet ceremony, hosted by Ant & Dec, held at the Palladium in London. HRH The Prince of Wales, founder and President of The Prince’s Trust, attended the event.
Lisa suffers with hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid on the brain that can cause brain damage. She was sexually abused when she was 17, a traumatic experience that left her suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. She lost direction and when her mother contracted pneumonia, Lisa found herself caring for her mother and completely withdrew from society.
A visit to her local JobCentre Plus gave her hope. She met a Prince’s Trust Outreach Executive who inspired her to join Team, a Prince’s Trust programme that builds the confidence and employability prospects of unemployed young people.
Lisa felt supported at Team, overcame her anxiety and pushed herself to see what she was really capable of. She has since secured work at Halfords as a Customer Service Advisor, and loves her new life.
She said: “The Prince’s Trust is like my second family – I feel like I’d already won before I arrived today. The support I’ve been given has been amazing and it has allowed me to give my daughter everything I never had. I’d encourage anyone looking to get involved with The Prince’s Trust to go for it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Lisa completed her Team programme at Sutton Coldfield College.
Michael Wall, her Team Leader said: “We couldn’t be more happy for Lisa and proud of her success. The programme that Prince’s Trust and the college offer is very much about giving young people that might not feel they can achieve anything the chance to develop confidence and discover their future. This is how it was for Lisa.
“Now, not only does she believe in herself, she has been able to progress in her career and has a network of people that support and encourage her. On top of this, she says she is living life to the full.
“Everyone who meets her is inspired by her outlook.”
The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx Celebrate Success Awards, now in their thirteenth year, recognise disadvantaged young people who have overcome issues such as abuse, drug addiction, homelessness, depression and unemployment.
Youth charity, The Prince’s Trust gives disadvantaged young people the skills and confidence to find a job. Three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust move into work, training or education.