Groundwork staff recognised at regional awards

Lisa Daly (left) and Jill Eckersley with their certificates and Lisa's award.

Two staff from Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale recently had their hard work recognised at the North West Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards, held at St. George’s Hall in Liverpool.

Prince’s Trust Team Leader Jill Eckersley was nominated in the Leadership category after helping to positively change young lives across Middleton, while Lisa Daly was the worthy winner of the Young Achiever of the Year award and will now go on to represent the North West in the national finals in London in 2009.

Jill delivers the 12-week personal development programme for unemployed 16 to 25-year-olds. She has worked with more than 160 young people and was nominated in recognition of her patience, tolerance and understanding of others.

Jill went head-to-head against two other youth workers from across the North West and was a very creditable runner-up.

She said: “I can’t believe it, I’m just so happy to have been nominated for this award. It came out of the blue and was the last thing I was expecting.

"I love working with the young people on the Team and I’ve see so many of them completely turn their lives around - it’s very satisfying work.”

Fellow Team Leader, Lisa Daly was nominated for the Young Achiever of the Year award and was up against four other young people.

Lisa joined Jill Eckersley’s Prince’s Trust Team Programme in September 2007 in an attempt to overcome a series of traumatic problems that had seriously affected her life.

With Jill’s expert understanding and guidance, she excelled as a team player, began to feel accepted for the first time in years and gained a more positive outlook on life. After successfully completing the course and totally transforming her situation, Lisa asked to stay on as Jill’s voluntary assistant, to use her experiences to help other Team members.

Additionally, she was engaged as a Prince’s Trust Ambassador, addressing various promotional gatherings to give her own personal story of the impact that the Team programme had on her and how it could help other young people.

In the Summer she was appointed Prince’s Trust Team Leader, a position that will enable her to inspire more young people and help them achieve their own potential.

Lisa added: “I was really pleased just to be nominated, but to actually be the winner makes me really proud. Without the support and encouragement from Jill and the rest of the staff none of this would have been possible.”