By David Cohen

Copyright standard

For Alfie, school was a daily ordeal. The death of his father at 14 devastated him and he soon became a target for bullying. “People would randomly punch me and push me around,” he said. “They taunted me and made jokes about my dad dying. At 15, I had a mental breakdown and began misusing drugs to self-medicate. By 17, I was admitted to CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service] inpatient unit.”

Eryn had a similarly painful start. After losing her grandfather and dealing with significant challenges at home, she was diagnosed with social anxiety and depression. “I was on high-dosage medication and struggled to attend lessons,” she said. “I was very quiet and couldn’t handle being around other children, so the school put me in a room on my own.

“I felt completely isolated. I stopped going and was moved to a school for young people with mental health conditions, but due to space issues, they lumped us together with young people with violent or disruptive behaviour. They’d throw chairs through windows and kick down doors. I withdrew even more.”

By the time Alfie and Eryn, now 24 and 23 respectively, left school, they had just one GCSE each — along with low self-esteem and bleak prospects. “I couldn’t imagine myself getting work – I was in a dark place and felt like my life was over,” said Eryn. “I couldn’t have had a worse start in life,” said Alfie.

They were right to be concerned. In the UK, 923,000 young people aged 16-24 are currently NEET — not in education, employment or training — with more than 150,000 out of the workforce due to severe illness, especially mental ill health conditions, according to official labour force data.

Yet for both Alfie and Eryn, engagement with The King’s Trust — our partner in the Destination Unknown campaign helping unemployed young Londoners into work or business — would prove pivotal.

Today we tell their stories: Eryn, now working in finance, and Alfie, still “destination unknown” but on his path and full of purpose and hope.

We’re also joined in the campaign by entrepreneur Emma Grede, who overcame dyslexia — having dropped out of both high school and fashion school — to become a founding partner and chief product officer of Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand Skims.

Announcing her Ambassadorship for The King’s Trust today, Emma, who is estimated by Forbes to be worth more than $400 million and ranked among the top 100 “richest self-made women”, said: “The Destination Unknown campaign is shining a light on an important issue — young people leaving education who face multiple challenges. Too many don’t believe in themselves, but with the right support, that can change. I remember how vital it was, when I was starting out in fashion, to have people around me who believed in me.”

She urged the public to support the campaign. “The Trust supported tens of thousands of young people last year alone,” she said. “This is such crucial work to fund. We need the next generation to thrive — it’s in all of our interests to support them financially.”

For Alfie, the turning point came last September when his mental health support worker at the charity Mind referred him to The King’s Trust. He volunteered on a conservation project in Epping Forest and then signed up to a Get Started in Conservation course, run in partnership with the RSPB at Rainham Marshes.

“I loved it!” he said. “Helping animals, working in nature — it made me think I could turn my hobby into a career.”

A few months later, the Trust offered him a place on their Seeding Success show garden team at the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show. He worked alongside the head designer, sourcing plants and preparing the site — before meeting the King. “It was amazing,” he said. “Meeting the King was surreal. I never thought in a million years it would happen. It was like an out-of-body experience.”

Alfie now hopes to be a conservation ranger, and has started applying for jobs. “I have my whole life ahead of me,” he said. “Most importantly, I no longer feel lost — I feel purposeful and happy.”

Eryn’s transformation began when her grandma found The King’s Trust. Although reluctant, she joined the Explore programme. “They knew exactly how to rebuild my confidence and help me manage my stress,” she said. “I set goals for myself and even started mentoring other young people on the course which helped me further develop my personal skills.”

She went on to complete the Get Into Work programme, which led to a temporary role at Marks & Spencer. “I worked there for a year — six months in the food hall, six in women’s wear. It gave me back my confidence and independence.” Through the Trust, she applied for a role at Newcastle Building Society, competing with university graduates for the position. “I knew I had to bring my personality and people skills – and I got it!”

It was a huge moment for a powerful young woman who had been diagnosed just a few years before with social anxiety. Eryn completed her apprenticeship “with distinction” and is now a full-time customer service advisor.

“I still have bad days, but at the wise old age of 23, I now know that they pass. When I look back at where I was a few years ago, it feels like a fairy tale. The Trust gave me back my life.”

You can help more young people like Alfie and Eryn take their first steps into work and a more hopeful future.

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)