11:41am Friday 3rd July 2009
CREWE'S Craig Byatt has been chosen by national youth charity The Prince's Trust to become a Young Ambassador.
Craig’s appointment comes at a time when the North West has seen a 70% rise in 18 to 24 year olds claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in just one year.
Craig, aged 21, was asked to represent the youth charity as a Young Ambassador after graduating from The Prince's Trust 12-week self-development Team programme run by Cheshire Fire Service.
He will now volunteer his time, speak to the local community, take part in debates and meet with MPs in the hope of inspiring other young people.
Before he got involved with the programme, Craig found it difficult to talk to new people and had a small drugs problem.
He said: “Before I got involved with the Trust, my life was rubbish. "All I did was sit around all day or go fishing.”
Craig found school boring so he left when he had two GCSEs before starting an animal care course at college.
However, he was in desperate need of a confidence boost because he found it hard to engage with others, which he knew would affect his job prospects in the future.
Things started to change when he found out about The Prince’s Trust 12-week team programme.
It’s open to unemployed young people aged 16 – 25 who are looking for a challenge.
Participants take part in team building activities, a week-long residential visit, complete a community project and spend two weeks on work experience.
Craig feels that if he hadn’t had help from The Prince's Trust, he would still have low self esteem. The programme has greatly improved Craig’s confidence and he is no longer afraid to engage in conversation with people he doesn’t know very well. He is motivated again and completely free of drugs which he feels is a great achievement.
He added: "I would do the programme again in a heartbeat”.
Craig is now undertaking a maths and English course at Cheshire Training in Crewe and would like to further his education in the hope of working with reptiles in the future either at Chester Zoo or Stapley Water Gardens.
He intends to use his position to tell other young people exactly how The Prince's Trust helped him and other young people like him. Craig said: “I believe that everyone deserves a second chance.
"If you are given one like I was, give it your best shot because if you succeed, you can go far. "The Prince's Trust has changed my life for the better in a big way”.
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