Samantha's Breakthrough success

Samantha Jones, 24, from Cromer, has won the James Barney Foundation Breakthrough Award from the Prince’s Trust after turning her life around with the help of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Samantha was heading for a career in the RAF when here hopes were dashed as she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 16. After that her life went into a downward spiral and she drifted from one part-time job to another until she was given a chance by the Prince’s Trust to achieve the qualifications she had missed out on at school. She is now an apprentice administrator at NNUH, working with training and development manager Julia Watling on the hospital’s very successful apprenticeship programme.

“I was hoping to be a physical training instructor with the RAF so the news about my diabetes came as a dreadful shock,” said Sam. “My hospital visits were a revelation – I had no idea so many people were involved in the care of patients with diabetes. When I was offered a two-week work placement as part of my Prince’s Trust training I really enjoyed the experience and things just went on from there.

“Julia Watling has been incredibly supportive – she has encouraged me every step of the way and words can’t describe how grateful I am to be working here. It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to learn new skills and give something back to the hospital.”