A GROUP of young people are celebrating taking charge of their own lives and becoming more employable. Zoe Cree from Letchworth GC, and Wayne McGarry, Charlene Dunkley, Natalie Walker and Taran Jacobs from Stevenage have all successfully completed a four-

A GROUP of young people are celebrating taking charge of their own lives and becoming more employable.

Zoe Cree from Letchworth GC, and Wayne McGarry, Charlene Dunkley, Natalie Walker and Taran Jacobs from Stevenage have all successfully completed a four-week pre-employment training programme run by the Prince's Trust.

The course - Get Into Hospital Services - was run at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, giving young people who are not in employment, education or training the skills and confidence to pursue a career within the NHS.

All participants worked towards a Customer Service Level 2 NVQ, completed a week of work experience, and were given the opportunity of an interview for an apprenticeship in areas including renal support services and plastic surgery.

Wayne, 20, has been unemployed for 11 months. He said: "I was desperate to find any job, but every interview I attended I was told that I lack qualifications or need work experience. I felt trapped in a vicious cycle.

"The programme offered me a chance to get an apprenticeship and a foot on a ladder for a career.

"Now I just want to be successful in everything I do. Five years down the line I want to look back and say 'I did the best I could'."

Taran, 20, had been unemployed for nearly eight months and said: "My confidence was really low, I had no self belief, and I couldn't see ever getting a job.

"I then joined the programme and everything changed.

"The past few weeks have been a real journey and the whole experience has been amazing."

The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust is the first NHS Trust in the country to offer work experience through the Prince's Trust.

Jacqui Attrill, professional development and recruitment nurse at the Trust, said: "We hope we have had an input in changing their lives and, in doing so, creating a local workforce for the future.