A student from Bradford College who is building a bright future after a troubled upbringing has been shortlisted for a national award.
Construction apprentice Josh Smith has been selected as a finalist in the 2018 Young Builder of the Year Awards.
The teenager from Queensbury is one of eight young people from across the country vying to take the title in the 14 to 18-year-old category of the awards organised by Youthbuild UK.
The college says Josh left school with just one low-level GCSE due to a difficult home life and school behavioural issues but has turned his life around and is excelling on the bricklaying course he is studying at Bradford College.
The 17-year-old will discover whether he has won the award when he attends a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 17 October.
Josh said: “I was brought up in an environment where there were issues with drugs and crime.
“This created behavioural issues at school and I was excluded from most lessons because of my conduct and was considered a distraction. I struggled to learn because I wasn’t allowed in classes and was told constantly that I would never achieve anything or get a job which meant I had very low self-esteem.
“My mother was also diagnosed with cancer while I was at school, which affected me emotionally. I would really like to thank her for pushing me to reach my goals and helping me through the tough times.”
Plans to convert Blackburn’s former St John’s Church into a digital and cyber business hub have taken a major step forward after councillors approved the appointment of a contractor.
Bradford Council’s Executive is set to consider £1.9 million of additional investment in leisure facilities, museums and family hubs, alongside an update showing improved financial stability.
Tributes are being paid to one of the country’s oldest hospital radio broadcasters, Patrick Murphy, who has died in Bradford at the age of 95 after more than a decade on air.
Bradford Council’s Executive is being updated on improved financial stability, following a major increase in government funding and progress on long-term recovery plans.
Two Bradford-area nurseries are among 37 Partou settings nationwide to be awarded the prestigious Reputation ‘900 Club’ status, recognising exceptional customer satisfaction and trust.
Three people have been arrested following a stabbing outside Dewsbury bus station which left a 17-year-old boy seriously injured. Police say the incident was targeted and enquiries are continuing.
Public realm improvement works are set to begin on Darley Street in Bradford city centre this week, aiming to better connect key regeneration areas and improve walking and cycling access.
Plans for a new state-of-the-art sports and leisure facility at Squire Lane in Bradford have moved a step closer after the planning application was approved.
Muslim Aid has launched its annual UK Winter Programmes, aiming to support thousands facing homelessness and poverty during the coldest months of the year.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a serious road traffic collision on Canal Road in Bradford during the early hours of Tuesday (30th Dec) morning.
Nearly 3,000 volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association marked 30 years of nationwide New Year clean-ups by clearing litter across more than 75 UK towns and cities.
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