Streetwise Environmental employee picks up Nottingham Post Heroes Award

We are proud and delighted to report that our employee Jake Sharp has won a Nottingham Post Heroes Award in honour of his triumph over adversity.

When eighteen year old Jake came to Streetwise Environmental as a trainee, he had been diagnosed with multiple mental health disorders, and had a background of robbery and drug dealing. Since then, with our support, the help of the team at the Babington Group, and with his own determination and hard work, he has turned his life around. He now has a full time job with us, helping to improve the local environment. He says, “Babington and Streetwise have helped me a lot with everything. They both want the best for me, and I know that in the long run I will get a lot of out of it.” 

John Scott-Lee, Managing Director of Streetwise Environmental, is committed to supporting the company’s local community, and says that traineeships such as the one arranged for Jake through the Babington Group is vital if we are to give people a second chance. He says, “Jake’s traineeship was a twelve-week programme that required him to give up drugs and alcohol and to be at work at 7am every day. It was a physically demanding job that required real determination.

Rachel Cameron, Director of Cityscape Greening, works with Streetwise Environmental to help trainees develop new skills and take on responsibilities and a good work ethic. She witnessed Jake’s transformation, seeing him take on initiative and become a natural leader within the team. She said, “These traineeships allow young people to work at whatever level suits them, and learn a new craft. They offer a great opportunity to get into stable work, and keep young people out of trouble. When you have a purpose in life, something to get out of bed for, a real transformation takes place.”

Jake’s inspirational story won him the Young Achiever Award at the Nottingham Post Heroes Awards. 

Jake is rightfully proud of his achievement, and grateful for all the support he has been offered. He said, “When other people are sitting at dinner they are looking at my work, and that gives me the sense of achievement to carry on. I never thought four or five months ago that I’d be doing what I do now. I feel like I’ve got everything going for me.”

Caption:

From Left to right:

Allen Graham, Chief Executive, Rushcliffe Borough Council; John Scott-Lee, Managing Director Streetwise Environmental: Jake Sharp, Streetwise Operative; Sue Harvey, Babington College; Cllr Neil Clarke, Leader of the Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council