08The Trust / Inspiring young livesTwo artists share their stories about how The Prince's Trust has helped them improve their lives and achieve their creative goals Comparing notesBefore Sami came to The Prince's Trust, she was suffering from agoraphobia and had not left her fl at for three years.Sami found the transition from school to college very stressful. She had daily panic attacks and gradually stopped leaving the house, spending her days painting and drawing. But later, Sami began to self-harm to cope with her isolation.After seeking help from her GP, Sami moved into supported housing at The Foyer. Hoping to encourage Sami to feel more confi dent outside, her support worker put her forward for The Prince's Trust Team programme. Despite feeling overwhelmed at fi rst, Sami soon became an integral part of the team and became an excellent leader. Her skills in art were employed on a community project, for which she helped design a garden for a care home.Since then, Sami's confi dence has rocketed. She is studying for a BTEC National Diploma in Art and Design, has become an Ambassador for The Foyer, and won the L'Oréal Paris Young Achiever of the Year Award for the South West - she is shortlisted for the Celebrate Success Awards national fi nal in March. Sami said: "I used to be so anxious I thought I'd be stuck at home my whole life. Now, I'm going to go to university to become an illustrator and I feel like I'm fi nally living my life."Shaun BotterillSami Jeffs, 24, from Somerset, is studying art and hopes to go to university and become an illustratorWeston Mercury

princes-trust.org.uk/thetrust 09In 2007, The Prince's Trust helped Sam Wadsworth to become a full-time artist and set up his own business, giving him an interest-free loan of £2,500 to pay for studio rental and equipment. The Trust also provided Sam with a Business Mentor, Jeremy Lincoln: Jeremy was instrumental in giving Sam valuable advice about running his business.Sam now regularly exhibits paintings in London and sells his work in New York. He was the cover artist for Art for Youth at the Mall Galleries, where he was also awarded the Diana Brooks Prize for painting. He has painted a number of notable fi gures, including Dr Who actor Matt Smith, was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Federation of Small Businesses, and has been made a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers in London.Sam says: "The help my Business Mentor Jeremy gave me was invaluable. He was so dedicated and enthusiastic and offered far more than his role required. Knowing that I had someone to turn to for advice in the early stages has enabled me to come this far."Northampton-based artist Sam Wadsworth, 31, has found success with the support of The Prince's Trustyoung people have been helped by The Prince's Trust to set up businesses since 198377,000KNOWING I HAD A MENTOR TO TURN TO FOR ADVICE HAS HELPED ME TO COME THIS FARSAM WADSWORTH, ARTIST