A healthcare assistant from Leicester has been shortlisted for The King’s Trust Young Achiever Award at the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards.
Megan Ferguson, 24, has been named as one of this year’s prestigious Pride of Britain finalists.
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary year. The Pride of Britain Awards celebrate the achievements of people who make our world and community a better place. The prestigious award ceremony takes place in London. It will be broadcast on ITV1 on Thursday October 24.
Picture credit: Megan Ferguson
Every year, The King’s Trust Young Achiever Award recognises the accomplishments of a young person who has turned their life around against the odds after being supported by His Majesty The King’s charity and is now giving back to their local community by helping others do the same.
Faced with physical and mental health challenges growing up which impacted her education and confidence, Megan left school in Leicester without the required Maths and English qualifications to pursue her dream career working in the NHS. Finding herself unemployed at the start of the pandemic and on Universal Credit, she feared for her future.
Today she is a Healthcare Assistant at Great Ormand Street Hospital in London after support from The King’s Trust Health and Social Care programme, and is looking forward to starting her nursing apprenticeship to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse.
I was diagnosed with a severe form of Scoliosis at the age of 11 and was riddled with insecurities, anxiety and depression during my school years which impacted my education and carried into my adulthood.”
After the support I received from my own nurses growing up, I knew I wanted to help others like they helped me. But I felt that I would never be able to achieve anything, let along be a nurse. I didn’t have the right qualifications or belief that I could actually do this.”
With the mentors help, Megan passed her Maths and English tests to secure the qualifications she needed to pursue a career working in the NHS, and eventually went on to secure not one, but three roles as a Healthcare Assistant in London before making the move down.
“I finally have the career I always dreamed of but believed would only stay in my dreams. Now I’m living it. I smile at myself when I proudly tells people what I do! Getting to help people every day is something I love, and I can’t wait to start my nursing degree to finally become a nurse.
“Rejection is not failure it’s how we leant and grow. The Trust and my mentor gave me the confidence not only to pursue my career but also to believe in myself. This is an incredible life skill that will allow me to thrive in my now not-so-scary future.”
On her recognition Megan said: “Being a finalist for the Pride of Britain Awards feels absolutely surreal. I never imagined I’d be recognized in this way, and it truly motivates me to continue making a positive impact on young people’s lives. Still very speechless till this day.”
Megan is one of the four finalists shortlisted for the prestigious award who visited The King’s Trust South London Centre to meet with the judging panel, which included representatives from ITV, The Mirror and The King’s Trust.
The winner will be invited to receive their award and special recognition at the star-studded award ceremony recorded in London on 21st October.
