I've learned you can do anything if you put your mind to it...

Prince's Trust changes life of anxious teen who quit school

- JACKIE ANNETT

WHEN Rhys Morris was 12 his anxiety was so crippling that he couldn't go to school and found it difficult to talk to his own grandad.

But now aged 16, he is a different person - he's mastered public speaking and is hoping to become a police officer all thanks to The Prince's Trust Achieve programme.

It let Rhys push his boundaries as he completed his GCSEs and Prince's Trust certificate. He says: The Prince's Trust taught me you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it." But it's not just about sitting exams.

He remembers how pleased he was after setting himself a goal to overcome his fear of heights and climb a tree, and says the teamwork activities forced him to speak to strangers.

Rhys says: "I'm terrified of heights, but going up that tree really pushed me out of my comfort zone.

"I was also pushed to speak to people I'd never met, something I could never do before, which really helped with my confidence. When I look back and compare that period to where I am now, the change in me is unbelievable.