When Cait Buckley was battling severe anxiety and depression she couldn’t have imagined how purposeful life could one day feel.
After dropping out of college, she barely left the house, slowly losing more and more of herself.
But signing up to take part in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s Prince’s Trust team programme changed Cait’s life forever.
The 24-year-old, from Southampton, said:
“The team programme was one of the hardest but most amazing and rewarding 12 weeks of my life.
“I made friends, started going out more, and opening up to people. I actually started enjoying life and feeling like there was hope.
“I had to overcome a lot of challenges, but with the support of team I managed to complete the programme, something I still believe to be one of my biggest achievements.”
Cait now works as a trainer for St John Ambulance after team inspired her to go back to college to get her GCSEs.
The difference the team programme has made to Cait’s life runs deeper still, as that’s where she met her fiancé Mike, and they now have two-year-old Flynn.
“Before I joined the programme the idea of having a healthy, stable relationship didn’t seem possible to me, but team changed my life,” explained Cait.
“After seven years with my partner we are engaged and looking forward to married life with our little boy.”
Cait bravely shared her story as part of the service’s Prince’s Trust 20th anniversary celebrations.
Over the past 20 years, HIWFRS Prince’s Trust team has delivered more than 130 teams and helped to improve the lives of nearly 2,000 young people, by inspiring them to reach further and fulfil their potential.
Prince’s Trust manager, Joanna Gregory, said:
“Taking the opportunity to all come together to celebrate the achievements made by the Prince’s Trust team and all our past members over the last 20 years has been so special.
“It has also been a great chance to thank our many valued supporters without whom we couldn’t run the programme – a programme that has helped to change and shape the lives of nearly 2,000 young people.”
Fire and rescue service national liaison officer for the Prince’s Trust, George Martin, presented Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin, with a special service award to commemorate HIWFRS’s commitment over the past 20 years.
CFO Odin said:
“I feel immense pride in accepting this special service award on behalf of the Prince’s Trust team for their dedication and commitment to the programme.
“Both past and present colleagues have made the programme the success it is today and each of them has left their positive mark on the nearly 2,000 young people we’ve managed to support.”
The Prince’s Trust Team programme is a free 12-week course for unemployed young people aged 16-25 who aren’t in education and are unsure about their future goals.
The programme helps team members to boost their confidence, increase motivation and gain the new skills and experiences needed to turn their lives around, whether they choose to find employment or access further education.
Every team member who completes the course also receives a nationally recognised Level 1 Employment, Teamwork and Community Skills qualification certificate.
The next programme starts on January 23 from Redbridge, Basingstoke and Sandown Fire Station.
Find out more here, email princes-trust@hantsfire.gov.uk text Team to 07918 887897, or search HIWFRS on social media.
The course is run in funding partnership with Eastleigh College and Hampshire Achieves, part of Hampshire County Council.
