Local young woman wins Royal Award
The Awards recognised the achievements of young people across the West Midlands who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.
Lisa Case, 24, was named winner of the IHN Insurance Rising Star award
Lisa, 24, from Birmingham, 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.
“I’d always been in and out of hospital because of my own condition, and then suddenly I had my mum to care for and I felt alone.”
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.
On winning the award, she said, “It’s important to show people that you are not a victim but a survivor. I am grateful to be recognised and to The Prince’s Trust for all their support.”
Liz Foster, Managing Director IHN, said, “I would like to take this moment to congratulate Lisa on being named the winner of the IHN Rising Star award. Lisa has overcome enormous challenges to turn her life around and I hope she is very proud of her achievement. I’ve no doubt she will continue her positive path.”
TK Maxx has been a partner of The Prince’s Trust since 2013 and in 2016 HomeSense, the sister company of TK Maxx, appointed The Prince’s Trust as their national charity partner.
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.