Hemel young people who created outdoor visiting area for a care home are shortlisted for royal award

A group of young people on The Prince’s Trust Team programme in Hemel Hempstead have been named as finalists in the Dell Technologies Community Impact Award category for The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards.

The national awards recognise the achievements of young people who have succeeded against the odds and improved their chances in life.

The Dell Technologies Community Impact Award celebrates the positive contribution young people make in their local community whilst developing their own skills.

The young people were taking part in the Team programme, a 12-week personal development course that helps young people to grow their confidence and skills.

It is run in Hemel Hempstead by The Prince’s Trust and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Delivery.

Whilst taking part in this programme the young people decided to run a community project that would help residents at a local care home to see their friends and family by creating a new visiting area in the garden.

The project helped both the residents and the young people. The new garden gives the residents an outdoor area where they can meet loved ones.

The young people have found a new interest in their lives and gained a feeling of accomplishment in their work.

Team Leader Stephen Ford said: “The young people have the strongest work ethic that I have ever seen on a Team programme and they are such a compassionate and caring group.

“The care home had faced two disasters. The roof on a structure had collapsed and a sinkhole had appeared in the garden.

"As the care home had to use funds to solve these issues, they did not have the resources to work on the gardens. This is when Team 8 came to the rescue.”

They have become a part of the care home community, as new friendships were made across the generations. The group has volunteered to the home once a week to maintain the gardens and meet up with the residents.

The winners of The Prince’s Trust and TKMaxx & Homesense Awards will be announced in early 2021.

Speaking about the awards, Louise Greenlees, President, TJX Europe said: “We’re delighted and very proud to continue to partner with The Prince’s Trust to sponsor these awards, and to recognise those young people who, with the help of the Trust, have beaten the odds to turn their lives around.

"We’re humbled by their achievement and grateful for the opportunity to share in their celebration.

“Since 2013, our partnership with the Prince’s Trust has enabled us to bring over 1000 young people into our stores through the Get Into Retail programme, and over 700 have gone on to find employment with us in TK Maxx and Homesense.

“We believe that the Trust helps to make a huge difference to the lives of young people across the UK, and we are privileged to be able to support them in this work.”

Youth charity The Prince's Trust gives young people the practical and financial support they need to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work.

For more about The Prince's Trust, click here.