I’ve learned you can do anything if you put your mind to it...
Prince’s Trust changes life of anxious teen who quit school
WHEN Rhys Morris was 12 his anxiety was so crippling that he couldn’t go to school and found it difficult to talk to his own grandad.
But now aged 16, he is a different person – he’s mastered public speaking and is hoping to become a police officer – all thanks to The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme.
It let Rhys push his boundaries as he completed his GCSEs and Prince’s Trust certificate. He says: The Prince’s Trust taught me you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it.”
But it’s not just about sitting exams. He remembers how pleased he was after setting himself a goal to overcome his fear of heights and climb a tree, and says the teamwork activities forced him to speak to strangers.
Rhys says: “I’m terrified of heights, but going up that tree really pushed me out of my comfort zone.
“I was also pushed to speak to people I’d never met, something I could never do before, which really helped with my confidence. When I look back and compare that period to where I am now, the change in me is unbelievable.
“Back then I’d struggle to speak to my own grandad and hated group settings but now I do public speaking. I recently spoke in Cardiff at The Prince’s Trust ceremony in front of 70 people.” While the coronavirus pandemic proved challenging for most people, it was particularly difficult for Rhys, from Abergele, Conwy, North Wales.
He was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in April 2020 after completely withdrawing from education and struggling with his anxiety.
Sometimes Rhys’s mental health was so bad that he considered harming himself. But thanks to a caring teacher, he was referred to Milestones, Ysgol
Plas Cefndy – a pupil referral unit in Rhyl which supports struggling young people.
“I was struggling with confidence and self-esteem, anything to do with social interactions,” Rhys says.
“I couldn’t handle going to school. Covid and moving house didn’t help, they knocked me off balance.
“I lost contact with a lot of my friends, my anxiety destroyed any social contact I had. But I’ve been able to do more than I can imagine with the correct support.”
It was there that he joined the Achieve programme, which helped Rhys interact with others as he took part in team-building activities, and taught him new skills. Although he admits he was pushed completely out of his comfort zone, with the support of professionals and a safe space around him, he opened up.
He now wants to give something back to the community and is studying for a BTEC in Uniformed Protective Services as he works towards his ambition of joining the police force.
“I see a lot of people my age who struggle in general and I’d recommend the Achieve Programme – it’s made a huge difference to my life,” he adds. “I’ve been helped my entire life by the Prince’s Trust and I see the work they do. Now I want to make a difference and help people too.
“The Achieve Programme has helped me to achieve my ambition. I want to contribute to society myself.” Rhys has also won The Prince’s Trust Ascential Education Award. This award recognises young people who have overcome barriers and developed new skills to improve their prospects through re-engagement in education.
Tracy Marlor, who nominated Rhys, said: “At Milestones, we challenge all our pupils to aspire. Rhys has taken that challenge to the highest level through Prince’s Trust. This is an amazing achievement, as a school we are immensely proud.”
So what would Rhys say to other young people struggling at school?
“I’ve never really won anything in my life so to be recognised by The Prince’s Trust is quite overwhelming.
“I know I’m not the only one who struggles – lots of people did during Covid. Winning this award just goes to show you should never give up.”
The Prince’s Trust is a charity founded by King Charles to help disadvantaged young people by offering financial grants, training courses and mentoring. Rhys’s story shows just how much the right support can help young people turn their lives around.
Since it was set up in 1976, more than a million young lives have changed for the better and many of them have gone on to help others.
I struggled with all kinds of social interaction
RHYS MORRIS ON HIS CRIPPLING ANXIETY