2023 Winner
SHANNON THOMSON
Shannon Thomson, 23, from Dundee was struggling on benefits and caring for two little boys, but with help from the Prince’s Trust she now has a career working in the NHS.
Due to being under the care/supervision of Action for Children since the age of 16, she has always lived independently. She is a single mum, and her second son was born prematurely and has long term health difficulties. While Shannon was on one of her visits to the hospital, she saw an advert on Facebook for the Prince’s Trust’s Get into Healthcare programme and made an enquiry.
Shannon took part in the four-week long programme, which ran in partnership with NHS Tayside and Dundee & Angus College. Despite juggling multiple priorities, Shannon excelled and fully committed to the training. Her confidence grew and she was delighted to meet like-minded young people who shared a similar background. She was even able to share her own experiences of supporting her sons with other young people on the course.
Immediately after the course ended, Shannon applied for various roles within the NHS. Her caseworker at the Trust helped with the applications due to her having dyslexia and helped prepare for job interviews, as well as arranging financial support to pay for Childcare to allow her to attend the interviews.
Shannon successfully secured a role as a Healthcare Support Worker on the gynaecology ward at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee in July 2022. Unfortunately, due to Lyall’s health declining and further lung issues Shannon could no longer commit to a full time position.
She has now managed to secure a healthcare position still within the NHS but now employed by the Nursing Partnership. This has allowed Shannon to balance the demands of being a single mother while still pursuing her dream of working in healthcare.
After her own family’s experience of being in and out of hospital, Shannon is keen to be able to give back and support her patience and their families in the same way that she was. Shannon has a real passion for nursing and helping people, and hopes that as her boys grow up she will be able to further her career in healthcare. Shannon won the Breakthrough Award at this year’s Prince’s Trust Scotland Awards.