Rebecca Sampson
16-year-old Rebecca from South
Gloucestershire struggled to cope with her parents'
separation and divorce. Since joining the xl programme, Rebecca has
turned her life around and she is now optimistic about her
future.
Rebecca's relationship with her mother and father
suffered as a result of their divorce and she was prone to having
explosive arguments with them. Her unstable home life meant that
she started struggling at school. She lost all motivation to
succeed and became involved in a crowd known for drugs and
crime.
As a result her studies suffered and she was at risk of being
permanently excluded. As part of their support framework Rebecca’s
school referred her for dual placement, spending part of her time
at a Pupil Referral Unit and the other in school. At school Rebecca
attended The Prince’s Trust xl club, which helps young people who
are struggling at school, giving them confidence and
motivation.
During the course, Rebecca’s confidence grew and she developed a
renewed commitment to her education. She also became a motivational
leader within the group, often encouraging others to engage in
activities that they were not naturally inclined to take part in.
Supported by the xl Advisers, Rebecca’s attendance at school
improved and her attitude towards others also changed. She won the
xl club “star of the month” award more than any other student in
the club – which showed Rebecca that her hard work was recognised
by staff and peers. As a result of her progress she stopped
attending the PRU and went back to school full time.
Since joining the course, Rebecca has turned her life around and
she is now optimistic about her future. Upon finishing the
programme, it was decided that she no longer needed additional
support at school. She has gone on to complete a course in
childcare and has now identified her career aspirations – a
significant step for a young woman who previously lacked any
motivation or hope for the future.
Rebecca said:
Since joining the xl club, I’ve found my
confidence and self-belief again. I now know what I want to do and
it is a direct result of being a member of the xl club.
Champions
We would like to acknowledge the individuals or organisations
who have played a key role in helping this young person achieve
success through their Prince’s Trust programme.
- Hannah Huckman, The Grange
School
- Tom Monks, The Grange School