Jade Lesh, 26, from Cardiff has been named as the winner of an award from The Prince’s Trust after struggling with mental health, battling bipolar disorder. Jade found herself feeling trapped working 70 hours a week in an extreme environment earning minimum wage. This routine led to an unhealthy lifestyle, severe stress, and anxiety.
The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community. Jade scooped the Homesense Young Achiever Award that focuses on employment, the final step on the pathway to work, and is for an inspiring young person who has overcome barriers to succeed in work for more than 12 months. They will be able to demonstrate how being in a secure job has transformed their life and helped them to build a more stable and fulfilling life.
Jade took part in the Get into programme, which is aimed at helping young people secure jobs. During this time, she began to foster a sense of hope for her future, marking the moments as a significant turning point in her life.
On her journey with The Prince’s Trust, Jade said:
“I was stuck in a repetitive and unfulfilling cycle with no clear direction. It’s sometimes hard to see past your own struggles so putting yourself forward for help from organisations such as The Prince’s Trust is a challenge.
“I was sceptical at first, but The Prince’s Trust has just been a real beacon of support with the most amazing cheerleaders – they just get it. I think sometimes it can be easy to feel forgotten about, but The Prince’s Trust have never made me feel like I’m alone.”
Undergoing a remarkable transformation, Jade secured a position as Digital Growth Executive at Iungo. Though being extremely nervous, Jade grew into this position with optimism for her future.
“Being a Digital Growth Executive for a company that was a startup and is now scaling allowed me to really boost my confidence. I’ve been able to do things that I never thought would be possible with the problems I get to solve every single day. I’ve not only been able to advance my career but also help other young people in upskilling and changing their careers. I no longer feel like there is no sort of path for me going forward.
“I feel a strong sense of belonging and happiness. This job has provided me with so much professional growth, impacting my life in the best way. I now have a safe and supportive work environment.”
Jo Murphy, Vice President Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Director, TJX Europe said: “We are thrilled to support the Young Achiever Award, and to celebrate inspirational stories from across the UK. Through our longstanding partnership with The Prince’s Trust, we’re proud to help young people overcome barriers to build a better future for themselves and have a positive impact in their communities. Congratulations to Jade and all the winners for their amazing achievements.”
TK Maxx and Homesense (TJX) have been a partner of The Prince’s Trust since 2013 and are one of The Trust’s largest delivery partners of the Get into Retail programme. This is a two-to-six-week course that develops young people’s skills in the retail sector and supports them into positive outcomes in retail. TJX have also supported the Prince’s Trust Achieve programme since 2016, working with schools across the UK to build the confidence and teamwork skills of young people as they prepare for life after education.
Youth charity The Prince’s Trust gives young people the skills and confidence to get their lives on track. Three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust move into work, training, or education.
