A YOUNG man from Crewe has been nominated for an award by The Prince’s Trust after battling homelessness, alcoholism and suicide attempts.

The Prince's Trust Celebrate Success ceremony, now in its sixth year, will take place at Blackburn Rovers Football Club on Thursday.

Adam Turner, 21, has been nominated for the Fire Services Young Achiever of the Year Award, which recognises young people who have overcome barriers and transformed their lives.

At the age of 15, Adam had to move into a YMCA hostel after a family break up.

Not long afterwards, Adam’s then girlfriend got pregnant.

He worked hard as an apprentice at a local garage so that he could afford to give his family a good start.

His hard work paid off and by the time he was just 18, Adam had two cars, a beautiful home, no money worries and a family.

Sadly, the relationship broke down unexpectedly and Adam was left alone.

He lost his job after becoming depressed and he immediately started to drink heavily.

Adam felt like everything good in his life had gone – his family, girlfriend, daughter and his job.

He would get out of bed early in the morning to stock up on alcohol before locking himself away for the day.

He said: “I started having a few drinks so that I could fall asleep without having horrible dreams, then it got to the point when I couldn’t sleep without alcohol and then I realised that I couldn’t do anything without drinking first.

"In the end, I was scared to go outside.”

Not long later, his best friend committed suicide. Adam said: “I began to realise that I was actually jealous that he was dead and I still had to wake up every morning.

"On December 31 2007, I decided that I didn’t want to see another year in, so I took a huge overdose.”

Adam’s GP recommended he contact youth charity The Prince’s Trust, which helps young people to gain the skills, confidence and motivation to go back to work, education or training.

Adam joined the Team Programme, made new friends, rebuilt his confidence and became proud of himself.

The final presentation allowed him to renew the friendship with his parents.

Adam completed an access course at Reasehealth College in Nantwich and has since started a degree in zoology at Chester University with a placement a Chester zoo.

Team leader Isobel Sykes said: "Adam became one of the most caring young people I have met on the Team Programme.

"After completing the course, he has continued to help a severely disabled child and her family.”

Adam will now go head to head against two other young people from across the region in the hope of taking home the Fire Services award.

A group of unemployed Team Programme participants who organised a healthy living project at the old Ludford Street School in Crewe have been nominated for the Manchester College Community Impact Award.

The group of 14 young people transformed a neglected area, resembling a jungle, into The Wishing Well quad garden.

Most of the team live in the area and felt that by renovating the garden, they could enjoy it along with members of their community.

The group cut down shrubs, cleaned out the greenhouse, created a vegetable patch and re-established pathways.

They also cleaned the pond, created two seating areas and painted a mural depicting their time on the Team Programme.