From homelessness to project management: 'Prince's Trust helped me get off streets... Now I’m aiming to inspire others'

 
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20 November 2013

A woman who went from homelessness to managing teams on a multi-million-pound construction project today told how she wants to inspire young people to “do something with their lives”.

Karine Harris, 23, left school with few qualifications when she was 16, a year after she was diagnosed with dyslexia.

She suffered from depression and anger issues after she was forced to live on the streets and in hostels for three years having been made homeless when she was 18.

She said: “My last year of homelessness was probably the hardest, I was out in Southall. I felt the most vulnerable, the most loneliness, I felt the worst I’ve felt in my life, I felt like there was never going to be a turning point.

“At that point I had lost most hope, I wasn’t even looking for a job, I was just looking to eat, the luxuries of washing. I wasn’t living, I was surviving.”

Feeling lucky: Karine Harris has won an apprenticeship in construction

After being helped into supported housing, she was referred to the Prince’s Trust Team programme, a personal development course that helped her develop employment skills and confidence — but despite a successful work placement she later became homeless again.

With the help of mentoring by the Prince’s Trust, she found her passion in construction and now has a home in north London and a two-year apprenticeship with construction company Kier Group, where she helps to manage construction teams on a £70 million building project in central London.

She said: “I like working as a team and knowing that everyone’s doing a good job and safely and progressing. I feel like one of the lucky ones. There are so many people out there who haven’t been given help like I have.”

Ms Harris is one of nine young people from across London who have been shortlisted for The Prince’s Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards, supported by Evening Standard, to be held tomorrow at the Emirates Stadium.

She said: “I just want to show young people that if I can pick up and start my life again that I can inspire them to do something with their lives.”

Jasmine Heatherington-Wilkes, 24, is also in the running for an award after being named a finalist for the RBS Enterprise Award.

The film-maker overcame bullying, unemployment and major confidence issues to start her own business, video production company Boko Creative, after doing the Prince’s Trust Enterprise programme.

She said: “I feel amazing. I feel like I’ve had the most incredible experiences of my life, even if they’re not all positive.”

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