Discovered: Russell
Campbell
"I left school with no qualifications. No
marks. Every time you would go down to the job centre there were
jobs for mechanics but you had to have qualifications."
Russell has lived in Govan all his life and was involved in
gangs and gang rivalries from a young age. He was suspended from
school 16 times and felt his teachers had given up on him.
When his step-dad died, Russell’s world fell apart. His gang
became his family and he started to lead a very dangerous
lifestyle. He hung around the house all day and was involved in
drug and alcohol abuse.
“I was unemployed for about six months. I didn’t have any money.
I couldn’t do anything. I just felt depressed.
And then I went to a local initiative in Govan.
I asked them to put me forward for anything involving cars. That’s
when I heard about The Prince’s Trust course, Get into Cars. Ever
since I left school I wanted to go into mechanics.
“I left school with no qualifications. No marks. Every time you
would go down to the job centre there were jobs for mechanics but
you had to have qualifications.
“The Prince’s Trust sent me a letter and I had to go to a taster
day for the course. There were 150 people. And just 12 places. I
felt a wee bit nervous. But then I got called back for the second
taster day and there were just about 20 people.
“It got cut down again. A
couple of days later I got a phone call to say that I had been
accepted on the course. It was brilliant. Amazing.
“The course lasted four weeks. We did three weeks in college.
And then the last week I did a work placement at car garage Arnold
Clark- Europe's largest independently owned, family run, motor
dealer.
“I was then offered a job at Arnold Clark. I was ecstatic. Over
the moon. The first person I told was my gran. She was so happy she
started laughing.
“I’m now on a four year modern apprenticeship at Arnold Clark. I
started in March 2009. I learn new stuff every day. Servicing cars
and stuff. More than I learnt at school. It’s great because it lets
people see you as a person, not just a name on a bit of paper.
“I have a career now. I’ve loved everything about it. It’s been
hard at times, there’s a lot of learning but I’m really enjoying
it. The guys at Arnold Clark have been brilliant.
“I’ve got a life now. I’ve got money; new friends. It gives you
confidence. I can go out. Go on holiday. I went on holiday in June.
It was the first holiday I had ever paid for myself.
“Without Susan at The Prince’s Trust and Jane at Arnold Clark, I
wouldn’t have made it.
“They saw something in me that no else had ever seen. They gave
me a chance. Gave me my life back. They saw me as a likeable
person. None of the teachers liked me when I was at school.
“The Prince’s Trust still phone and see how I am doing. And they
sometimes come into see me at work and make sure I’m doing
alright.
“When I started the course they helped me with my attitude. I
didn’t like authority before I started. That was my biggest problem
at school. Answering back. I’m more patient now. My job changed
everything. I’m more outgoing. More confident.
“The programme is amazing. For some people it’s a first or
second chance, and for some people it’s their only chance. There
should be more schemes like this. There are more people like me out
there and they just need a chance like me.
Life in the future is going to be brilliant. I
plan to finish my apprenticeship. Get my driving license. Get my
own car. And then one day become one of the managers in the
business.