Toni wins Prince’s breakthrough prize

Toni Surgenor picked up her accolade, which recognises the progress of young people in overcoming barriers and developing new skills, at The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards in Newtownabbey last week.

The Prince’s Trust citation stated: “16-year-old Toni grew up in a turbulent environment. Her early teenage years taught her that failure seemed inevitable. At 11 she started truanting from school.

“ At 13 she suffered terrible bullying so stayed away for the whole of her third year. At 14 she changed school, but that didn’t work out. She fell so far behind she thought she’d never catch up.”

In February 2010, Toni’s social worker saw an advertisement for The Prince’s Trust Get into Cooking programme.

She thought this short, sharp programme could give Toni a focus in life. At the start, Toni was shy and withdrawn, severely lacking confidence.

However, Toni was soon totally committed to the programme and completed a 60 mile round trip each day by train. She gained valuable skills and certificates and has discovered a real passion for cooking. For the first time in her life

Toni has recently started a full time catering course in Ballymena and is looking forward to establishing a career in the catering industry.

On receiving her award, Toni said, “I am so proud to win the Breakthrough Award. Before I took part in the Get Into Cooking programme,

“I had very little confidence and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I didn’t even realise that I would love cooking or be good at it !” Ian Jeffers, Director of The Prince’s Trust, said, “Toni is absolute proof that young people can grasp an opportunity when it comes their way.”