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'The King's Trust saved my life'

John Bray
BBC News, Coventry
King's Trust King Charles, in a blue pinstripe suit and his back to the camera, shakes hands with a man in a three-piece blue suit in a line-up at Buckingham Palace. The man is stood in front of pink wallpaper and wall paintings. NexKing's Trust
Harry Byrne won The King's Trust National Achiever of the Year award and met King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. He was flanked by actors Joanna Lumley and Tom Davis

Ten years ago, Harry Byrne was a 13-year-old boy having to deal with the sudden death of his mum.

He admits life in Coventry started to unravel as he skipped school. Eventually he became a homeless sofa-surfer.

"Life was chaotic. I was struggling with my mental health, I had no job, no qualifications and no home.

"I felt like I had no real prospects or skills. It was a dark time."

But on Wednesday, 23-year-old Harry was at Buckingham Palace meeting King Charles after winning The King's Trust National Achiever of the Year award.

Portrait of a bearded man in a black t-shirt sat in front of trees
Harry hopes one day to run his own business supporting young people and promoting positive mental health by working with them outdoors

Harry, who was supported by homeless charity St Basils, joined an outdoor skills course run by the King's Trust and Coventry Outdoors Education and Adventure Service - and never looked back.

He so impressed staff that he landed a job and now works with young people at risk of school exclusion.

"Before I got involved with the King's Trust, it wasn't a happy life," Harry said.

"I felt like I had nothing really to live for. No ambitions, no goals, not a lot of support.

"So I feel the King's Trust saved my life. They gave me the ability to believe in people again and to believe in myself."

Two men in black t-shirt working on a tree stump with axes
Harry and his colleagues teach outdoor skills to young people at Coombe Abbey Country Park
Two men in black t-shirts help a young boy in a blue top and green trousers with woodworking skills. One is making a chair out of branches and another had a block of wood in his hand
"I can actually support them because I was that person that was once there saying 'nobody can help me, nobody can support me, nobody actually cares for me'," Harry said

"He came into that programme with a lot of ambition, a lot of drive. It was clear that he loved being in that outdoor environment," said Chloe Groves, from Coventry Outdoors.

"He was really able to flourish, he showed great support with his peers and he was a natural leader."

A woman with short blond hair and red glasses with black t-shirt sat in a wooded area of a country park
Chloe Groves has seen Harry develop over the last three years

She added: "Two, three years down the line, he's in a full-time position as an outdoor activity leader and he's learning new skills every day.

"He's a real asset. Harry's been on a fantastic journey and for him to be recognised with this award, we're truly proud of him.

"He's so passionate about his job and passionate about helping young people."

A man with a beard and arm tattoos working on a wooden chair with a fence made from tree branches behind him
After meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, Harry was attending the King's Trust national awards ceremony in London on Thursday

"When the invitation was delivered, I started to cry," Harry said.

"It was tears of joy and I've never felt tears of joy before. So it was a peculiar feeling because I think for the first time in my life I felt proud of myself.

"It was an incredible feeling and it was probably one of the best days of my life because I've never felt such pride in my chest."

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