This Christmas, Homesense stores across the country are supporting The Prince’s Trust and helping young people in local communities achieve their potential. The annual Hang a Bauble campaign is now in its fourth year.

The partnership, which started in 2016, has gone on to raise more than £600,000 and together, The Prince’s Trust and Homesense have helped more than 1,900 young people develop the skills and confidence needed to engage and succeed in education, just like Austin from Somerset.

Despite working hard, school was a challenging environment for Austin. He has dyspraxia, which affects his coordination and fine motor skills, in turn causing him to have low self-confidence and anxiety around social communication.

Austin has always endeavoured to do his best, and with the help of The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme, has seen the results of his efforts rewarded. He has increased his confidence and learnt skills that will help him achieve his long-held dreams of a career in animal husbandry.

At first, Austin struggled to find his place in the education system, and his ability to make meaningful friendships was compromised. He was a very shy young man and was identified by his secondary school, Writhlington School in Radstock, as someone who might benefit from the Achieve programme.

Delivered in school and supported by The Prince’s Trust, the Achieve programme involves a range of activities, opportunities and small group work that supports students with their personal development. This in turn helps the students improve their academic attainment and have an overall improved experience of school.

Austin was very enthusiastic about taking part on the Achieve programme, and despite his anxieties, he was willing to try everything. He was offered a two-day research and art workshop project at the prestigious Hauser and Wirth Gallery in Somerset, and produced a line cut of a cheetah’s spots that was transferred onto a t-shirt – now one of his most prized possessions.

Austin has also taken to creative arts at home and helps his mum, who creates gifts and greetings cards. He has also been working hard to manage his own money, and values the importance of working hard to earn his own money. Trying new things and helping others has improved Austin’s life skills and he is now better equipped for the future.

This previously shy young man speaks with confidence and courage about his time on the Achieve programme. He is proud of his achievements and the progress he has made, saying: “Achieve has helped me to try out new things, which I never thought that I’d be able to do. Because I really like The Prince’s Trust, I want to aim high. It has helped me build a lot of skills, for my other lessons and outside of school.”