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To find out more about the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust please go to:

Or write to: Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, Unit 11.G.2, The Leather Market, Weston Street, London SE1 3ER

Or call: 020 7743 8600

My childhood wasn鈥檛 easy. I grew up on a council estate, spent time in care and really struggled at school. Growing up, I felt like I wasn鈥檛 good at anything but everything changed when a PE teacher spotted some potential in me. She gave me the push I needed and encouraged me to believe in myself. I have a lot to thank her for. Without her, my life could have been very different.

Unfortunately, too many young people, through no fault of their own, don鈥檛 have that special person to help them realise their true potential.聽 It can take just one person to change the course of a young person鈥檚 life and I believe that everyone needs someone to look up to and be inspired by, to make the most of their talents and abilities.

On the eve of the Beijing Olympics, I founded the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, with a vision to get young lives on track utilising the unique attitudes of world class athletes to engage, enable and empower disadvantaged young people.

Our programmes are transforming the lives of thousands of young people across the UK. I am so proud that 72% of young people who took part in Get on Track during 2014/2015 moved into employment, education or training.

I know that the Trust can do so much more for young people in need, but we need your help. Please give what you can today.

Thank you.

Double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes founded her charity, the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, in 2008 with a passion to support young people to lead more positive and healthy lives.

The Trust鈥檚 mission is to 鈥榞et lives on track鈥�, and to achieve its mission, the Trust has developed a range of mentoring programmes for disadvantaged young people aged 14-25. Uniquely, these programmes are delivered by high performing athletes who have been retrained as young people mentors.

The attitudes and skills athletes develop whilst competing at the highest level such as; focus, determination, confidence, and resilience are exactly those which tens of thousands of young people lack, and as a result are unemployed, struggling in education or facing barriers to move forward in their lives. It鈥檚 these attitudes and characteristics that make athletes effective mentors as they facilitate positive change in the lives of thousands of disadvantaged young people across the UK. The Trust鈥檚 flagship programme 鈥楪et on Track鈥� was developed in response to the economic downturn which was having a devastating effect on young people. The programme, which takes place over 14 months, equips young people who are unemployed and lacking direction in their life, with the confidence and valuable skills to move into employment, education or training.

Since 2008, the Trust has worked with 200,000 young people in the UK, including those who are in care, living in hostels, young carers, those with physical or mental health issues or disabilities and those that are increasingly facing challenges in finding employment or engaging in education.

Today, there are nearly one million young people in the UK who are unemployed, or out of education or training. Unemployment hurts at any age, but for young people it can scar mentally and physically for life. It can lead to lower earnings, long term unemployment, and ill health later in life.

The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust believes that every young person deserves the chance to succeed in life. Please help the Trust to support more young people like Martine and Curtis, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and attitudes to have a bright future.

For more information, go to their website聽, like on聽, follow on聽.

Martine experienced more turmoil than most teenagers.

Facing a difficult home life, she put herself into care aged just 14. At 16, Martine became a single mother, she was still alone, without a stable home and moving from hostel to hostel with a baby to care for.

Martine found herself with more responsibility than she bargained for, and no-one to turn to for support. Finding it hard to cope with depression and the pressure, Martine turned to alcohol and drugs, leading to a downwards spiral and a criminal record. Just when she thought there was no hope left, Martine saw a glimmer through the Get on Track programme.

On Get on Track Martine was mentored by GB Triple Jumper Michelle Griffith-Robinson. Through Michelle鈥檚 support Martine鈥檚 confidence, self-belief and leadership grew as she threw herself into the activities and challenges determined to try and change for the better. She started believing in herself, she 鈥渇inally found who she really was and where she needed to go鈥�.听听听聽聽聽聽聽聽聽

Thanks to the programme Martine finally found her feet, she has gone on to work for聽a rail company, with flexible hours to fit around childcare and has been promoted twice. She鈥檚 feeling good about herself, and is at last providing a stable home for herself and her son.

Martine continues her connection with the Trust, volunteering on the Trust鈥檚 current Get on Track programmes.

Curtis experienced a turbulent home life at the hands of his mother鈥檚 abusive ex-partner making home the furthest thing from a haven.

Curtis and his family were forced to move over 10 times in four years while being tormented by a torrent of domestic abuse. Also a victim of severe bullying at school, Curtis struggled to motivate himself or feel a sense of belonging or worth being trapped between two difficult environments.

While battling with depression, Curtis found himself withdrawing from others and spending all his time hidden in his room to block out the outside world. In 2013, struggling to see a future for himself and feeling hopeless Curtis went on a downward spiral and tried to take his own life. He received hospital care and not long after heard about Get on Track.

Curtis came to the programme as a very shy and timid individual, with low self-esteem and confidence. Over the course of Get on Track, Curtis came out of his shell and began to interact with more people. Two years later, Curtis is almost unrecognisable compared to the retiring person who joined the Trust.

Curtis is also in college studying a music course which is his passion, after regaining the confidence to share his music with others. He has high hopes for his future and one day aims to have a successful music career and a family of his own.

Since completing the programme Curtis has become an ambassador for the Trust, promoting and speaking at events, including a government conference.

Listen to his music聽聽or like on .听听听