I’ve been a mentor at The Trust now for nearly 2 years and I love it. I enjoy the spirit of the people who work there (it’s very much a ‘can-do’ environment) and I equally love the variety of people I meet and the business ideas they bring to The Trust. It’s random. It’s positively charged.  It’s my kinda place.

In March I was incredibly fortunate to have attended the Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success 2012 National Finals.

For me, Celebrate Success really started last year when I was asked to be a part of the national judging panel for the RBS Enterprise Award – one of several awards being presented at the Celebrate Success event.

In reading the stories behind each of the regional winners submitted for the national award, I was again reminded that despite serious setbacks of various magnitude nothing can stifle creativity & drive once they are allowed to bloom. Each person was a winner, having made amazing changes to their own personal situation.

Their success was not necessarily their business. Setting up their own businesses was a vehicle to making fundamental changes in their lives – what I call The Whole-360; personal development, confidence, self-esteem, being a positive player in society and making the future brighter for their own children, families and those around them.

Despite the harshness of life pre-Trust, what resonated was that each person simply wanted to have the same chance of success as anybody else.

What stands out in each of their successes is that they each delivered ‘the extra’ to achieve that; which can only make them extra-ordinary.

And the buzz I get as a mentor is seeing how much young people can achieve once they are in an environment where they are listened to and supported.

The entire experience is a personal highlight for me and I am genuinely grateful for being a part of it.