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Privacy NoticeThe King’s Trust – previously known as The Prince’s Trust – is one of the monarch’s finest achievements. The beloved youth charity, which King Charles is president of, has helped more than a million young lives. It targets people aged 11 to 30 and aids them with life skills and access to work and job opportunities. Previous beneficiaries have included Luther star Idris Elba, who used a £1,500 grant from it to help start his career, reports the Mirror. This year, four young people are being celebrated for their incredible achievements as finalists in The King’s Trust Young Achiever category at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, in a grand event at the Grosvenor House Hotel on October 21.
Roya has done incredible things
(Image: King’s Trust)
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“This is for the 200 million women worldwide fighting their battle with endometriosis,” one nominee says. Roya Rasouli, from Manchester, lived with endometriosis for a decade before she was finally diagnosed with the condition – which causes tissue similar to the lining of the womb to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. The painful condition affects one in 10 women worldwide and can be hard to diagnose. With the support of the charities enterprise course, Roya, 27, launched a fashion brand aimed at women with gynaecological health and gut conditions. “Before starting FemWear, I was working 60 hours most weeks, so had to suppress the pain I was in, and I could not take a lot of time off to attend the many medical appointments I had,” she says. “Now, as an entrepreneur, I can prioritise my health needs when I need to. “Having this flexibility is invaluable. I am so fulfilled with what I do every day, and the impact I make on women who live with pelvic pain, like myself, feels like a dream. “I make their pain more bearable with the comfort that our garments provide.” Roya says being nominated for a Pride of Britain Award is “surreal and deeply emotional”, calling it an “honour to be recognised”. Motaz Amer, 19, is another finalist who has shown incredible resilience in the face of adversity.
Motaz moved to the UK after fleeing from a civil war with his family in Yemen
(Image: King’s Trust)
After making the difficult decision to leave their home in Yemen to escape the civil war, Motaz and his family spent many years travelling through various countries before settling in Northern Ireland. “When we arrived in Belfast, I was excited to finally start school again so I could work towards getting my GCSEs, but I was disappointed to realise that there were no available school places,” Motaz says. The King’s Trust helped him to continue his education through a programme at the Belfast Met College, leading to him becoming a King’s Trust Young Ambassador while also part of the Refugee Council’s Youth Advocacy and Campaigning Group. “So many people and organisations helped my family and me when we first arrived in Northern Ireland,” he adds. “Now it’s my turn to give back. I hope I can continue to recruit more people onto the team programme and open their eyes to the opportunities offered.” Motaz also recently won the 2024 25Under25 Global Legacy Award in April, presented by Common Purpose. He says: “Right now, I am excited about the future. “I got my GCSEs, and am now doing a foundation course at college so that I can get the qualifications I need to study Computer Science at university. I know it’s going to be hard work, but I’m confident I can do it with the right support around me.” Also shortlisted is Molly Leonard, who has battled with her mental health after being diagnosed with anorexia more than 10 years ago. Molly, who was diagnosed at age 19, secretly battled with the eating disorder while studying. “I have been struggling with this eating disorder since I was 15, secretly working out in the middle of the night so that my parents didn’t know and giving away my food in school,” she says. “It wasn’t until I was diagnosed whilst at university that I realised that this isn’t normal.” Molly, from Glamorgan, Wales, reached out to The King’s Trust in 2022 during her last hospital admission after her occupational therapist mentioned she might find it helpful. He suggested she join the Enterprise Programme because he saw potential in her crafting, which she had picked up as a hobby. She says: “Two years ago, I almost lost my battle with my mental health. It was during this time that I realised I needed to change my path. “During my many hospital admissions, I would run craft workshops for other patients, bringing a bit of light into dark times. Our crafts in the hospital got quite imaginative. But we did what we could with what we had.” Molly, 26, launched ‘Craft With Me Molly Bee’, where she provides craft workshops. Discussing her Pride of Britain nomination, she says: “I was so shocked and honoured to find out I’d been nominated, I’m just me, doing my best. “I want to help people by sharing what’s helped me overcome huge challenges in life. “It’s thanks to the trust that I’ve been able to do this and to turn my life around to be well enough to make a difference in the world. “To have my achievements in the last two years seen and recognised is honestly amazing.” The final person shortlisted for an award is Megan Ferguson, who was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 11.
Megan was diagnosed with scoliosis aged 11
Megan, from London, was told her case was so severe that she needed to have an operation to fix her spine, leading to a tough recovery. After battling with depression, Megan, now 24, struggled to get back on her feet at school and failed to get her Maths and English GCSEs. After visiting a job fair, Megan discovered the trust and was given support in crafting a CV. “Joining the trust has been the best thing I’ve ever done,” Megan says. “They didn’t just support me in finding a job, they gave me the confidence to blossom. I still cannot believe how much I have achieved in such little time. “They presented me with opportunities to help me reach my goals; helping me achieve the qualifications I needed. They gave me invaluable experiences such as talking to the Minister of Care, the Chancellor of NHS England, and HM The King himself.” In 2021, Megan moved to London to work as a healthcare assistant and has since become a Young Ambassador for the trust. “Being a finalist for the Pride of Britain Awards feels absolutely surreal,” she adds. “I never imagined I’d be recognised in this way, and it truly motivates me to continue making a positive impact on young people’s lives. Still very speechless to this day.” Don’t miss the Pride of Britain Awards, Thursday 24th October, 8pm ITV1 and ITVXStory SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnPride of Britain Awards
