Denholm Recognises a ‘Rising Star’

Young people’s charity The Prince’s Trust recognised the achievements of young people in Scotland last night at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh, and The Denholm Group was proud to play its part by sponsoring the ‘Rising Star’ award.

The Prince’s Trust Awards acknowledge the outstanding achievements of young people who have overcome great difficulties and barriers in order to transform their lives in areas including education, skills development, employment, enterprise and community.

Actor and radio presenter Grant Stott hosted the 2019 Regional Prince’s Trust Awards in Scotland at a ceremony at the Assembly Roxy in Edinburgh on Tuesday. As a new patron of The Prince’s Trust, The
Denholm Group sponsored the ‘Rising Star’ award, which recognises young people who have overcome such difficulties and barriers and are in sustainable employment.

This year’s ‘Rising Star’ award in Scotland was presented to David Bruce. Finding a passion for cooking he did not realise he had, David overcame severe drug-related mental health issues and unemployment to focus on becoming a professional chef.

David Bruce said: “My mental health can still be brittle but I have much more confidence and resilience and I know when to tap into support services. I also have ambition for the first time in a long time. Doing the course at Tennent’s [Training Academy], getting the job and applying for college did feel daunting but exciting at the same time. I love learning and working with food and my future, which once seemed bleak, is now full of possibilities.”

Presenting the award, Ben MacLehose, Group Managing Director at The Denholm Group, said: “We wanted to form a partnership with The Prince’s Trust in order to help young people build their confidence and gain the skills they need to thrive in work, therefore giving them a future. David is an example of a young man who has achieved this after overcoming real challenges and barriers. He is an inspiration to all of us, and a reminder that with resilience, determination and commitment you can change your life and do great things. David is definitely a ‘Rising Star’ and a truly deserving winner of the Award.”

In the past year, The Prince’s Trust has empowered over 68,000 young people throughout the UK to take control of their futures. The Prince’s Trust Awards series recognises some of these greatest achievements at ten regional ceremonies that culminate in a star-studded national final in London in early 2020.