Patrice Nyarko
Patrice was working as a Box Office Assistant at Investec Opera Holland Park in 2017 before going on maternity leave. Once becoming a young Mum, she approached The Prince’s Trust for support to start building a business of her own.
28-year-old Patrice was born and raised in London and is a proactive person. Early in her journey as a new Mum, she struggled with postnatal depression, was unfairly treated by healthcare workers and had to deal with the stigma from people in her own ethnic and religious community. When she tried to apply for jobs, she was constantly met with closed doors or just didn’t get any feedback.
Having previously heard about The Prince’s Trust through friends, she applied for support and started her journey on the Exploring Enterprise Programme. Patrice knew that they were the best people to help her find a new direction. During lockdown, Patrice saw that the Get Started with Make Up programme was for young people up to the age of 30. She was excited to join the programme, as she had waited for this course to become available, and despite some technology issues, she attended every day. Her persistence and positive attitude impressed everyone on the course.
After the programme, Patrice completed another course with The Prince’s Trust, Get Started with Afro-Caribbean Hair.
Patrice has also completed external courses on attaining complete hair and makeup skills within the TV and film industry, as well as free nail courses with The Gel Bottle Academy, which now makes her a Qualified Hair and Makeup Artist & Nail Technician. She has now progressed through The Prince’s Trust’s Enterprise programme and has received a grant to help her purchase items as a hair and makeup artist. She also has a business mentor to help her business get started.
Patrice says, “I cannot thank The Prince’s Trust enough! With their help and support things have started to move in the right direction”.

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