Cavan White winner of the highly prestigious Breakthrough Award.
A one-time homeless young Derry man – who abused alcohol and drugs – has won a highly prestigious award after turning his life around.
Cavan White (22) won the Breakthrough Award at this year’s Prince’s Trust and Samsung Celebrate Success Awards hosted in London by top television presenters Ant and Dec.
He was one of three young people from across the North and Britain to be shortlisted for the accolade.
Cavan has been congratulated by SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan on region the finals describing his achievement as “huge.”
After moving out of his home following an argument with his mother, lived in a homeless shelter and was unemployed for two years, often using drink and drugs to help him cope with feelings of worthlessness and isolation.
However, after his friend committed suicide and Cavan found his body, he vowed to change his life.
As a result he joined a Prince’s Trust programme, discovered a passion for sailing and is now focused on a career at sea.
His decision to join the programme followed a suggestion by his support worker.
He explained: “I realised that if I wanted to build a successful career, I needed to make the change now. Team seemed the best place to make a new start.”
Team is a Prince’s Trust programme which gives unemployed young people the skills and confidence to find work.
Cavan revealed he was anxious on his first day on Team, but refused to let his nerves get the better of him and threw himself into the experience.
Cavan is presented with CoolFM DJ Pete Snodden.
It was during a community project that Cavan really came into his own.
The group had been asked to restore a heritage boat called the Curragh Colmcille, an undertaking that Cavan embraced wholeheartedly.
Using his initiative to identify what needed to be done, he led the group by example until the project was completed and was always the first to arrive and the last to leave.
He said: “After that I realised I could do anything I set my mind to. It gave me a new lease of life.”
Impressed by his work and his team spirit, Cavan was invited to join the Colmcille crew on a prestigious expedition from Derry to Greencastle and was also included in a voyage to sail continuously for 90 hours to Scotland and back as part of the ‘Return of Colmcille’ festival.
He even acted as the lead oar man, a role usually reserved for the most senior crew member, and spoke about his extraordinary experience on local and national TV and radio.
Mr Durkan said he was delighted to see the “transformative” impact and opportunities which opened up for him as a result of his involvement with the Prince’s Trust.
Mr Durkan added: “Cavan has proven his own character and spirit – and is a compelling witness for the value of supportive interventions by the Prince’s Trust for those who might otherwise be struggling with big challenges and few choices.”
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