Miira, 26, an only child, grew up caring for her deaf and mute Sri Lankan parents from the age of six. She arrived in London at 11 speaking little English and life in a silent household made her quiet and shy, and she struggled to make friends at school. Still, despite these obstacles — and the weight of being a young carer — Miira got herself into university, where she studied Accounting and Financial Information Systems, and then landed a job as a financial assistant.
Following the death of a close relative, and being made redundant, everything unravelled. Overwhelmed by anxiety, low mood and loss of confidence, she sought help from the NHS, who referred her to a King’s Trust Explore programme.
“I was worried that I wouldn’t get on with people on the course,” Miira said. “But we did team-building exercises and I quickly settled in.
“I have spent my whole life caring for my parents — taking them to appointments, filling in forms, translating for them — and while I am proud of that, it’s also been a lot.
I’ve found my confidence
“On the course, I was able to shed those responsibilities and just be a young person among other young people. I made friends. I found my confidence there.”
Destination Unknown in a nutshell
With one in six young Londoners unemployed, the Standard has joined forces with The King’s Trust to support unemployed young people into work or business. So far, £500,000 has been pledged by the Standard’s Dispossessed Fund — with half going to King’s Trust programmes in London and the other half to four grassroots youth charities across the capital. We are calling on corporations, foundations, philanthropists — and our readers — to donate. All funds raised will go to King’s Trust programmes in London
Miira joined a second King’s Trust programme — a four-week course called Get Into Tech. At the end, the Trust put her forward, among around 20 others, to interview for an apprenticeship scheme with tech consultancy Sopra Steria.
She broke into a broad smile. “I got in! And when I passed probation, they offered me a job as a junior support analyst in the Cloud Department. I’ve now been there a year and I love it.
“If not for The King’s Trust, I’d still be unemployed and unhappy — no question. Their intervention and the force of my engagement with them changed everything. I am on my way.”
How your money can help
£10 could help a young Londoner travel to a job interview
£20 could fund an hour of support from a trained youth worker
£50 could provide appropriate interview clothing
£90 could supply starter equipment, such as hairdressing kit for a salon apprenticeship
£150 could provide training and support through a King’s Trust course
£250 could enable a young person to attend a King’s Trust “Get Hired” event
Photography by Elliott Morgan. Visit kingstrust.org.uk/destination-unknown for more information or to donate
The King’s Trust has contributed £80,000 to help the Standard cover the costs of this appeal. This funding has been used to raise awareness of the Trust’s charitable work, helping it to transform young lives. The King’s Trust is a registered charity incorporated by Royal Charter in England and Wales (1079675) and Scotland (SC041198)
