The Prince of Wales with Young Achiever Award winner Ian Fisher, finalist Chris Saunders and actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Picture: Harry Page/Daily Mirror/PA Wire _320
FILM star Gwyneth Paltrow has paid tribute to a reformed Wirral heroin addict at a glitzy ceremony in London.
Ian Fisher, 29, won the Prince’s Trust’s Young Achiever of the Year Award for setting up his own business educating people across the North West about the dangers of drink and drugs.
Paltrow said: “Ian has shown remarkable will-power and strength of character to overcome drug addiction and prison.
“I am personally humbled by how such a young man can put his past experiences to good use and help others avoid similar problems.”
Kevin Spacey, Richard E Grant and Stardust’s Charlie Cox were among those gathered at the Prince’s Trust national event at London’s Odeon Leicester Square yesterday.
Ian was part of an inspirational trio nominated for awards who helped set a new Merseyside record.
Along with a bullying victim and a single mum, Ian helped Merseyside secure all of the nominations for the whole of the North West region.
Ian started using recreational drugs and alcohol at the age of 10 before moving on to heroin, crack cocaine and other drugs.
His long-term drug addiction ended with 18 months in Walton prison for possession and supply.
Mr Fisher said: “It escalated from when I was 10 or 11, I admir-ed the ‘bad’ lads and thought it was cool to take drugs, but it has caused serious health complica-tions for me. It was my deteriora-ting health that finally forced me to come clean after using heroin from the age of 19 to 25.
“I had a job as a chef but my life soon deteriorated and became chaotic, my priority was getting drugs and it was at that point I decided to detox. It was just as I came through the drugs with-drawal that my home was raided by police and I ended up in prison.
“That was really hard because of the amount of drugs available inside, but I tried to rebuild my life when I got out. I struggled to fit back into normal society and lacked social skills, but with a criminal record and my history no-one wanted to know.
But I applied to the Prince’s Trust for a loan and they helped with a business plan. It was about getting people to believe in me and me believing in myself.
“I set up ‘Subaware’, where I talk to students, police, drug addicts, anyone about alcohol and drug awareness. I now have every-thing I wanted, a family, a home and a baby girl. I’ve stayed in the same area as when I was a drug user, it helps with my recovery.”
The Prince’s Trust awards recognise success in people who have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.
The charity, founded by the Prince of Wales, in 1976 has helped over 550,000 young people across the UK.
