A BARNSLEY woman took home a big award from the Prince’s Trust.
Tara Joe Nortcliffe, of Clifford Street, Cudworth, won the Yorkshire and Humber Rising Star award at the Prince’s Trust Awards, sponsored by TK Maxx and Homesense.
The 19-year-old was 15 when her mum was diagnosed with leukaemia. And that diagnosis prompted in Tara a rebellious streak which led to her refusing to sit her exams.
Tara left school with no qualifications and began working at a chip shop. She also volunteered at a riding school for the disabled in between studying for college. But, when her mother died, she quit them all, moved in with her grandma and signed on to help pay her way.
It was her job coach at the job centre who recommended she join Prince’s Trust programme team, which builds the confidence and employability skills of unemployed young people.
Tara said: “I arrived with this bravado I argued, was disruptive and was always late. I wanted to appear to be confident and carefree I was anything but. Then one day I got really upset, and despite how I’d acted, everyone was really nice to me and it made me realise they had become my friends.
“Team holds so many good memories for me; our community project at the boxing club, my work placement at a care home, getting four qualifications. But the best was realising I didn’t need to pretend anymore I could just be myself.
“I’m no longer a rule breaker. I’m someone who sits and listens and wants to help people, and I’ve started a whole new chapter in my life living in my own flat and working full time as a carer. I’m proud of who I’ve become and I think mum would be too.”
