A young man who turned his life around with the help of a Somerset support group has spoken of his experience ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, which starts on Monday.

Life hasn’t always been easy for Jack Hopley, a horticulture apprentice with housing and care provider Sanctuary Group in Weston-super-Mare.

Born on a tough estate in Liverpool, the 23-year-old’s teenage years were blighted by homelessness, violence and his father’s death that left him depressed and suicidal.

At the age of 20, he left Liverpool to find a new life - and today lives at Sanctuary Carr-Gomm’s Weston Foyer, a supported housing scheme for 16 to 25-year-olds.

Staff at the foyer have helped him get back on track and last November he became one of 187 apprentices either directly or indirectly employed by Sanctuary, one of the country’s leading housing and care providers.

The role involves tending the group’s estates at a range of properties around Weston, Cheltenham, Bristol and Glastonbury.

Jack said: “I really enjoy it. I suffered from depression and anxiety for years and this has really helped me want to get up in the morning and do something that I consider to be worthwhile.

"I never used to be able to sleep because I would be worrying about every aspect of my life, but now I sleep soundly every night exhausted from all the hard work I‘ve put in - and knowing that my time and effort has made a real difference.”

Growing up, Jack had to contend with street violence on a regular basis.

“There would be a gang on every corner," he said. "It wasn’t a question of whether you were going to get into a fight, you just knew you would. I got into loads of fights. I think everyone did. When you got beaten up they would stamp on your head.”

Jack’s parents split up when he was 13 and he found it difficult adjusting. Relationships with family members grew increasingly strained and aged 15 he moved into a flat of his own in Liverpool. Things, however, continued to go downhill.

“My dad was diagnosed with cancer and died when I was 18," he explained.

"After that I suffered really bad depression and couldn’t get over it. I had really horrible, aggressive neighbours and they were making it worse. My relationship with my girlfriend became strained and we broke up on really bad terms.”

Jack was invited to Weston for a short break by one of his sisters who had recently moved south to escape an abusive relationship.

He liked the town so much he decided to stay and the council’s housing team found him a place in a high level supported housing scheme.

When he was ready, he moved into Sanctuary’s Weston Foyer, which offers medium level support, including opportunities to access training and education.

Jack is now optimistic about his future, and said: “When I moved into Sanctuary’s Weston Foyer, my luck completely changed.

"I met a beautiful girl and she helped me with my depression and anxiety, but I knew the next step was to find a full time job.

"When the chance to work as a horticulture apprentice for Sanctuary came along, I jumped at it. Now I feel like I‘m actually doing something with my life.

“My job is very active, so it has helped to improve my fitness and I can spend the money I have earned to support myself. I’m getting great work experience and a chance to turn what I am learning into a full-time career.

“What I like most about my apprenticeship is that at the end of the day we can look round and see how much better the grounds look than before we started which makes it all worthwhile.”

Jack and his girlfriend Joana are now looking forward to getting a place of their own together.

“I want a really big house with a big garden of my own and with the skills I am learning I can make it look how I want and look after it," he added.

Jack’s line manager David Newton, an Estate Staff Supervisor for Sanctuary, paid tribute to the young apprentice.

“Jack has a really good attitude to his work and gets on very well with the other guys. He is conscientious, hard-working and we are very pleased to have him with us," he said.