When Farzard first received his refugee status, he felt alone, and desperate for some security in life - now those fears which consumed his mind have been turned into hope for the future. The 26-year-old, who lives in Bangor, has been named as the winner of an award from The King’s Trust after overcoming immense challenges after arriving in Northern Ireland as a refugee, to now building a career and feeling excited about his future. The King’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community. Farzad scooped the Homesense Young Achiever Award, which recognises an inspiring young person who has overcome barriers to succeed in work. Before the programme, Farzad says he felt like he was "living in darkness". "I was lonely, learning a new language and was anxious about my future. However, learning new skills, building connections and securing a job have given me so much more confidence. I feel hopeful again." Farzad is a refugee living in Northern Ireland. He found out about The King’s Trust when a staff member came to the hotel he was staying in that night to share information on how The Trust could be of support. He continued: "After receiving my refugee status, I was desperate for stability. Being alone in a new country is hard and I felt really low. I was moved about constantly and told every day at 3pm where I would be sleeping that night. I didn’t want to remain feeling hopeless." Farzad signed up to the Get into Retail programme, delivered by TK Maxx - a long-term partner of The Trust. The programme aims to help young people gain work experience, build confidence and find secure, sustainable employment. "My time on the programme was difficult because I was homeless, but I began to feel hopeful again. During the programme, I spent two weeks in different hostels in Belfast, and two weeks in Derry. The TK Maxx and King’s Trust staff helped me to maintain my place, and I was able to continue in whichever store I was closest to, meaning I could stay focused on my goal of securing a job. I couldn’t have done it without their flexibility, and I loved gaining experience and learning new things." After completing the programme, Farzad was offered a role as an Associate at TK Maxx. He added: "I was so happy when I found out because having this job meant I could start planning my future. It gave me confidence that I was standing on my own feet. I really enjoy the working environment and my colleagues have also helped me improve my English. It’s a great place to start my career." Farzad now works full-time between TK Maxx and a job as a Teaching Assistant in a local secondary school. He says he now has stability, somewhere to live and a support network around him. He has more self-belief and his English has improved. "My life has changed so much," he said. "I was also chosen by Soccer Street, who also supported me, to play in the Homeless World Cup in South Korea in 2024. I have dreamt of playing in a World Cup so after everything I’ve been through, it felt incredible. I’m currently studying for my GCSEs and have dreams of going to university one day. I tell all my friends about The King’s Trust. "They have been a real light in the darkness for me." On winning the Homesense Young Achiever Award, Farzad said: “Winning this award means so much to me. I have overcome a lot in my life and this inspires me to keep aiming high." Jo Murphy, VP Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability TJX Europe said: "We are thrilled to support the Young Achiever Award, and to celebrate inspirational stories from across the UK. Through our longstanding partnership with The King’s Trust, we’re proud to help young people overcome barriers to build a better future for themselves and have a positive impact in their communities. Congratulations to Farzad and all the winners for their amazing achievements." TK Maxx and Homesense (TJX) have been a partner of The King’s Trust since 2013 and are one of The Trust’s largest delivery partners of the Get into Retail programme. This is a two-to-six-week course that develops young people’s skills in the retail sector and supports them into positive outcomes in retail. TJX have also supported the King’s Trust Achieve programme since 2016, working with schools across the UK to build the confidence and teamwork skills of young people as they prepare for life after education. Youth charity The King’s Trust gives young people the skills and confidence to get their lives on track. Three in four young people helped by The King’s Trust in the past five years have moved into work, training or education. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.