Faisal Ahmed only tracked his birth mum down two weeks before she died in a house fire
A young Scot is to find if he is to be crowned the UK’s best Rising Star at an award ceremony hosted by Ant and Dec in London next week.
Faisal Ahmed, 25, has already been crown Scottish winner at the The Prince’s Trust and Samsung Celebrate Success Awards and goes up against two other regional winners on Monday at the London Palladium.
The awards, now in their 12th year, recognise disadvantaged young people who have overcome issues such as abuse, drug addiction, homelessness, depression and unemployment.
Faisal, from Edinburgh, is shortlisted for the Delta Rising Star Award which recognises young people who, despite having faced significant personal obstacles, are in sustainable employment as a result of a Prince’s Trust programme.
It just feels as though this is what I’ve been waiting for all along, and is special because of what happened to my mum
Arriving in Scotland at the age of seven from Bangladesh, Faisal spoke no English, which led to years of bullying and racism.
Forced into an accountancy degree he hated, he returned to Bangladesh. It was on this trip that his world turned upside down when he was told that his mother was actually his stepmother and his birth mother was back in Scotland.
He returned home to track her down, but discovered she was misusing drink and drugs, had major mental health issues and was being cared for by health professionals.
Despite this, he spent as much time with her as possible only to face devastation two weeks later when she tragically died at her home in a fire due to a discarded cigarette.
“It was horrific seeing my mum die in such a way,” says Faisal. “However, watching the health team look after her so caringly in the two weeks I did spend with her inspired me that her death would not be in vain, and so I knew that I wanted to help others in the way they had my mum.”
Gaining a place on The Prince’s Trust Get into NHS Lothian Healthcare Facilities programme, which helps unemployed young people find a job in that industry, Faisal soon proved a big hit with all the patients.
He learned a range of new skills and became one of the top trainees. As a result, NHS Lothian offered him a role in the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, as a domestic support service assistant. He now has his sights set firmly on a career in mental health.
“It just feels as though this is what I’ve been waiting for all along, and is special because of what happened to my mum,” he added.
“To have the chance to honour her memory by helping others is incredible, but it wouldn’t have been possible without The Prince’s Trust.
“I’m so grateful for the help I’ve had that I’ve applied to become a trust ambassador.”
Seven awards will be given out on the day by celebrity ambassadors of the Prince’s Trust, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
