Former teenage tearaway up for Young Builder award

Published by Jane Gething-Lewis for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

A tearaway teenager who managed to escape his criminal past is now in the running for a prestigious national award.

Wayne Melvin is celebrating after reaching the final of Youthbuild UK’s Young Builder of the Year.

The 19-year-old, from Shelton, has turned his life around with the help of PM Training - the Stoke-based training provider which tackles worklessness among young people.

“Problems began when my dad died suddenly from an epileptic fit,” said Wayne, a former pupil at Newcastle Community High School.

“It sent me off the rails; I stopped caring about everything and refused to go to lessons.

“I turned to alcohol as an escape and started drinking on the streets. I got into trouble with the police and was arrested for football violence, criminal damage, and for being drunk and disorderly.

“My whole life just spiralled out of control, I was 15 and didn’t know how to pick myself up, or get things back on track.”

Wayne, the youngest of three children, recognises the impact that his behaviour had on the family. He was forced to move in with a friend when his mother, sister and brother moved away to rebuild their lives.

“This was a really difficult time and I was left on my own, but my family couldn’t cope with my behaviour,” said Wayne.

“I was in a bad way; I had no real home, no money, no future – I was doing the odd cheffing shift here and there, but knew it wasn’t the career for me.”

During this period, Wayne recalled the times when, as a child, he had accompanied his electrician dad Brendan on various jobs.

“I started thinking back to happier times,” said Wayne.

“My dad had a career, he built a good life – I realised that I wanted more and decided to do something about it.”

Wayne turned to PM Training in 2006. He applied for a place on an apprenticeship programme and soon began the life-changing course.

“Suddenly my life had purpose – I had a routine, something to get up for,” he said.

“My confidence grew and I realised that I could make a go of things.”

During his PM Training apprenticeship programme, Wayne completed three work placements. Each gave him valuable experience in the plumbing, engineering and decorating trades, preparing him for his current role with Rhodes and Cooper Decorators.

Wayne has also managed to rebuild relations with his mom, who will accompany him to the glittering National Young Builder of the Year Awards at the House of Commons later this month.

“Not only is this a massive personal achievement for me, it is also an opportunity to finally make my mom and dad proud.”

Will Nixon, Chief Executive of PM Training, said: “Wayne is a leading example of a young person with potential, someone who needed the opportunity and support to make a change.

“He has had to overcome a number of personal challenges and it hasn’t been easy. However, the hard work and determination has paid off and we all wish him every success.”

PM Training, a social enterprise and part of the Aspire Group, is the most successful training provider in Staffordshire.

It provides around 900 job and training opportunities every year, and 70 per cent of all trainees go on to pursue long-term training or permanent employment – one of the highest success rates in the country.