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How the Prince’s Trust Team Programme Changed My Life

Adam Smith, who recently completed the Prince’s Trust Team programme which was delivered by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, shares his experience of the past twelve weeks and his newly found motivation to pursue a career in the Fire Service.

“I have just spent three months with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service at the Tigers; it has been the best twelve weeks of my life. Everybody spends over a decade at school, six hours a day, five days a week, and yes they make friends, but I don’t talk to any of them now... but on Team I’ve met friends in just twelve weeks that I’ll never lose contact with for as long as I live.

I am the proud father of a one year old baby boy named Josh, and everything I’ve done, like when I hesitantly walked off the cliff backwards whilst abseiling, when I crawled through small dark tunnels to get back out of a pitch black cave. I did for him. He was on my mind all the time because I needed to learn everything I could from this course... I had to grow up... come into my own... find myself.

I called myself a proud father, I made out to everybody I was there for him, but at the same time I was on cannabis. I had to change, truly show that I am there for him... because I felt I was a liar, a fake.

Being a father is really hard, especially when you’re young. He needs me and his mother to stay healthy and have a good positive upbringing.

I put as much as I could into Team. I knew it was essential to learn as much as I could from the programme.

There were times when I wanted to quit and just go back to my old ways... because cravings are strong, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to look Josh in the eye or explain to him when he’s older why his dad is a failure. This was the time to make a change, and may be the best opportunity I was going to get. I felt it was important that I had to realise that.

I want to be a firefighter... but I thought it was the sort of job that was out of reach... a dream job. I thought I’d just stick to bland 9:00-5:00 “realistic” jobs, to earn and provide for Josh and his mother.

I met firefighters all over Leicester, spoke to them, and listened to their advice and stories. I was taught that nothing is out of anybody’s reach. Reach for the stars, and if you fail, so what. You tried. Now get up and try again, with more inspiration, more motivation, more determination.

I’d lost my confidence. I was bullied in school for being different and hadn’t really felt the feeling of belonging let alone any kind of feeling of success.

Thanks to Team I’m cannabis free, more confident and have a post-course advisor in my arsenal to move on to the next steps in life... and that is firefighter training... which I now fully understand is a very realistic career move.

I won’t have to look into Josh’s eyes in later life and explain why I can’t afford his birthday presents... or why dad has the bailiffs round... or why I’m in a ditch with a bottle in my hand... or why I’m going to die at 30 years old tops.

I owe this pure life I now lead to The Prince’s Trust, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, Mat Jesson my Team Leader and my fellow Team members. It’s down to them – I’ve found my feet. I’ve found me. I am a better person, a better man and a better inspirational father.”