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Dawn and Boyzone are ambassadors
A Silsden woman who, just two years ago, was without a job and struggling to pay her mortgage is now working with a top pop band.
Dawn Feather, now a successful freelance video film editor, is making behind-the-scenes documentaries with Boyzone about their comeback tour.
Dawn, 24, was helped by the Prince's Trust to launch her business and she has been chosen by the charity to take part in an initiative to tackle negative perceptions of young people.
As a young ambassador she will give talks and participate in debates with the aim of inspiring other young people and to highlight the positive contributions youngsters are making to communities.
The young ambassador scheme is being introduced in the wake of increasing reports of teenage knife and gang crime.
Dawn had dreamed of working as a film editor from the age of 12, but struggled to get her first break and worked in a supermarket to pay the bills.
She soon became depressed, with no outlet for her creative skills.
"It was pretty soul destroying," she said. "No one liked me - I think it's because they knew I didn't want to be there."
Eventually she got so frustrated with shelf stacking that she quit, with nothing else lined up.
In 2006, struggling to pay the mortgage and desperately wanting to return to work, she contacted the Prince's Trust.
She met with one of its business managers and was given a £1,000 grant and £1,700 loan to buy equipment and set up her freelance video editing company.
Dawn said working with the trust had hugely boosted her confidence and meanwhile her business was going from strength to strength.
She said her work with Boyzone had been interesting and enjoyable. "The band and whole crew are really nice people," she added.
Dawn feels that young people have an unfair reputation.
"I was involved in a film editing workshop recently at a football ground," she said. "Some of the people involved were worried that the young people may disrupt things and behave badly. In the end they were persuaded that this wouldn't be the case and they were really pleased at how well everything went."
As a young ambassador, Dawn is keen to remind people that everyone deserves a second chance.
"Every young person has the ability to succeed. If you want to get back into work, contact the trust - the people there really know what they're talking about," she said.
As part of the Prince's Trust national young ambassador scheme, more than 200 people are promoting the positive message about youth.
Peter Branson, Yorkshire regional director for the trust, said: "If we keep telling young people that they are layabouts, losers and junkies, there is a real danger that they will believe they can't do anything different.
"This campaign gives young people a voice, letting the public know about the positive difference they can and do make to their communities."
Further information about The Prince's Trust log onto www.princes-trust.org.uk or call 0800 842842.
10:24am Wednesday 3rd September 2008
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