As he became monarch last month, King Charles must have looked back at the many achievements of his life.
Chief among those will likely have been the more than a million young lives he has changed for the better thanks to The Prince’s Trust.
For 46 years the charity has been at the forefront of helping young people overcome major life challenges. Many then go on to help others.
Despite his succession, the King is as passionate about the Prince’s Trust as ever and is remaining as president of the charity.
And this year more of those inspiring young people are being celebrated for their achievements as finalists in the The Prince’s Trust Young Achiever category at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB.
The winner will be honoured at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House, which will be screened on ITV later this month.
Here, we get to know the four finalists...
Alex Anderson - 'I’ve had lots of knocks but got through'
Being labelled a naughty child and moving school four times made Alex Anderson’s early years a struggle.
But an Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis aged nine was the start of a change in his life and he eventually became one of the first people with the condition to join the Royal Air Force.
“It was very hard, schools didn’t know how to deal with me,” says Alex. “When I was nine, I got my diagnosis and was able to learn coping mechanisms with the right support.”
Alex had long wanted to join the RAF, but was rejected in 2017 due to his Asperger’s. After entry rules changed, he tried again with the help of The Prince’s Trust.
The 22-year-old, from Newport, South Wales now works as a logistic supplier for the RAF after going on the trust’s employability programme. He adds: “I’ve had so many knock-backs, but The Prince’s Trust got me through.”
Alex Brown - "Course helped me find myself again"
Alex’s life changed forever when she left an emotionally abusive relationship and moved back to her home city of Belfast.
In early 2019, Alex took a personal development course with The Prince’s Trust after seeing an advert on Facebook.
The 26-year-old says: “This helped me realise my worth and put me back on the path to rebuilding my life. I started to push myself.”
She is now studying for a degree in youth work but has had to overcome other setbacks, including being diagnosed with endometriosis and spending weeks in and out of hospital.
Now a Trust ambassador, Alex says: “The support I’ve had from The Prince’s Trust has been indescribable.
“It’s amazing to think of how far I’ve come. If you have hope, you can do anything.”
Hannah Hoskins - "Bright idea to bring colour to lives"
When Hannah Hoskins walks down the street with a bright-pink walking stick she knows it’s going to be a talking point — in a good way.
Hannah, now 33, began using mobility aids six years ago when she developed “subclinical hypothyroidism”, suffering debilitating symptoms including chronic pain.
She began to decorate her walking aids and says: “Having colourful aids was a way to start a conversation that wasn’t just, ‘Do your legs work?’.”
Hannah, from Cardiff, signed up to The Prince’s Trust enterprise programme in 2020 and launched Not Your Grandma’s, selling beautiful compression socks. She also offers advice and support in her blog The Handbook. She says: “It’s a way of providing the information I desperately wanted myself, but couldn’t find.”
Holly Gault - "Now I’ve got fire in me to support others"
After contracting measles at the age of two, Holly Gault lost her hearing in both ears.
While she refused to see this as a barrier, Holly, 30, felt many people didn’t feel the same. “I always struggled getting jobs,” she says.
In January 2020, animal lover Holly moved to Mexico to volunteer at a dog sanctuary.
But when the pandemic hit, she had to return home to Moira, County Down.
Unemployed and unable to volunteer, she went on the virtual Prince’s Trust Explore Enterprise Course. Now she is running the business she’s always dreamed of.
Her dog hotel company Holly Gault Pet Services has gone from strength to strength.
And she’s passing on her knowledge as part of the Trust’s Business in the Community Youth Advisory Panel. Holly says: “It’s incredible to be recognised for my achievements. It’s given me a fire in my belly to do more.”
