Inspiring others to succeed

A teenager who turned her life around after she stopped taking drugs and drinking has been named as a top apprentice in the county.

Louise Conroy, 18, of Whinney Lane, won the overall apprentice award at the Nottinghamshire Training Network work-based learning awards. She also won the Foundation Learning Award after completing the level one storage and distribution course and level one youth worker training.

She won £1,000, which she has used to pay off some bills, buy a new sofa and to help with the cost of going to Albania with the National Police Aid Convoy next month where she will help distribute supplies to villages.

Louise said she had missed a lot of schooling and so left with no qualifications and little hope for the future.

She said at one stage she was taking drugs and drinking alcohol but, with the help and encouragement of youth support workers Suzanne Froggett and Janet Bennett, her life had changed and she had not used drugs or drank for more than three years.

Louise said: “When I left school my life was going nowhere and I was regularly using drugs and alcohol. I really could not see a very bright future so I am over the moon how things have turned out in the last year.”

Louise said she hoped to inspire other young people who may feel they have not got a future because they lacked qualifications or confidence.

“I proved that you can turn things round,” she said.

“I have made enormous strides and I am determined to get a career established so I can help young people pursue their dreams.

“I had people believe in me and give me confidence to get my life in order.”

Louise is a part-time youth support worker with Nottinghamshire County Council, helping at youth centres in Bilsthorpe and Edwinstowe. She is also a volunteer at a youth group at St Paulinus’ Church, Ollerton.

Sarah Platt, part of the Skills For Employment team, said they were very proud of what Louise had achieved.

She said: “The awards are testament to her hard work and commitment and will hopefully lay the foundations for a wonderful career.”