A FIREFIGHTER from Urmston has received a special award from the Prince’s Trust.

Anthony Hilton, 27, won the Chess Rising Star award at the North West Prince’s Trust Awards in Manchester on October 10.

The 27-year-old scooped the award after turning his life around through a 12-week Prince’s Trust programme with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

After successfully completing the Team programme, he volunteered with his local brigade before landing his dream job as a full-time firefighter.

He said: “The Prince’s Trust played such a big part in me finding work I love after a difficult time. To now have my dream job and win this award feels amazing.”

Before joining the Prince’s Trust, Anthony said he had been working in a number of unfulfilling temporary roles to make ends meet.

But a chance meeting with a local firefighter inspired him to join The Prince’s Trust, where he gained the skills and confidence needed to take his life forward.

He said: “One day I got talking to a guy at Stretford Fire Station and he told me about a programme called Team.

“It took some convincing, but I agreed to give it a try as it was important for me to go out there and start meeting new people.”

With the help of his Team mentors at the fire service, Anthony beat thousands of applicants to his dream job as a firefighter.

He said: “I’d always wanted to work for the fire service and arranged a work placement within its community safety team.

“It was such a fulfilling experience, so afterwards I started volunteering for the brigade.

“Team gave me a massive opportunity. Six months earlier I was in a completely different place, but now I am more confident than I’ve ever been and doing the best job in the world.

“I thank The Prince’s Trust and Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service for giving me the opportunity to change to my life.”