Joshua’s Story

"I can see the positive impact i've had on the lives of young people like myself."

After a rocky first few years at his secondary school in Wolverhampton, Joshua proved that it’s never too later to turn your life around.

In Year 10 he was predicted to achieve an average points score of 408 at GCSE. A year later, he’d achieved an APS of 718 and was one of the most dedicated volunteers in his school.

Josh got his school career back on track when he got involved in sports coaching programmes. He leads an ‘Active Academy’ for Year 7 students who have low self esteem and confidence, and he’s now on a ‘Recruit to Coach’ programme with Westcroft Special School Sports Partnership.

Every Friday he gives up his time to work on an out-of-school-hours activity programme for children and adults with disabilities, as well as children in case. Josh runs sessions that range from sports to cooking and crafts. He also supervises visits to Alton Towers and Go Kidz Go during school holidays.

Josh is selfless and very humble. He is a student who has demonstrated that it is never too late to start achieving. He is now trying to help other students in school and in the local community improve their life chances. He has been recently elected to the Post-16 Committee,and he also helps PE staff in his spare time.

The work Josh does helps other students boost their self esteem and belief in themselves – he said: “The Diana Award has given me something to be very proud of.”