Sir Rod Stewart told Reece Hayes he would be proud to be his dad after surprising the student with a Pride of Scotland award in the back garden of his Essex mansion.
The inspirational 24-year-old, who has turned his life around after spending his troubled teenage years getting into bother with the police, spent an afternoon chatting to the Maggie May singer and his wife Penny Lancaster.
Dad-of-eight Rod honoured Reece, who grew up without a father and acted as carer to his late mentally ill mother, with The Prince’s Trust Young Achiever Award.
The veteran rocker, 75, who presented the Edinburgh University student with his trophy, said: “With young boys of our own we realise how hard it must have been growing up without a supportive father or male role model. I told him if I was his father I would be very proud of him.
“It’s amazing that even though he was a young lad with needs of his own he took on the responsibility of looking after his mum, who will be looking proudly down on him.
Former model Penny, 49, added: “Reece and I had a great chat about his past and more importantly about his positive outlook on the future and how important the Prince’s Trust was in turning his life around.
“The fact that Reece’s ambition for the future is to help others that are going through what he had to do and study to better educate himself in the work of mental health.”
Reece, who grew up in the Thornliebank and Arden area of Glasgow, now uses his experiences to inform others on issues such as poverty, mental health and violent crime, said: “I was told I was doing a piece to camera for the Prince’s Trust which would take place in the garden of a house in Essex.
“When I rounded the corner Sir Rod and Penny were sitting at a table on their patio. It was very bizarre. They told me I had won an award and said they were proud of my achievements. It was a lot to take in.
“It was Penny I recognised first as I watched her in Famous and Fighting crime. She was telling me about how she has been accepted to train as a Special Constable once restrictions are eased,
“She was interested in hearing about how I have shared my experiences with the justice system and police to help shape prison reforms and policies for the future.
“I told them that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the help and support of the Prince’s Trust who got me back on my feet. I’m now on a mission to help others before they too hit rock bottom.”
Reece had a traumatic childhood as a young carer and as he struggled to cope, he became angry, suicidal, and picked fights with anyone he could. He ended up with two police assault charges, two domestic assault charges, two charges of threatening behaviour and a breach of bail charge.
He said: “My dad hasn’t been in my life since I was three an I became a carer for my mum from the age of 11. It could be very manic and difficult to deal with because of the challenges around poor mental health.”
“Eventually the cracks started to show; I got into fights at school, I was depressed, and filled with pure hatred.”
Realising that living at home was only exacerbating the problem, Reece moved out and spent five months in a homeless unit before securing his own tenancy. Yet despite this change in living situation, he still found it
difficult to cope. He said: “I went clubbing all the time, I drank, got into fights, got arrested. I was suicidal and didn’t care what happened to me. Then one day, I’d had enough. After narrowly missing a jail sentence, I got a mental health assessment, was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, given medication and support from a counsellor, and referred to The Prince’s Trust.”
Reece secured an interview for Get into Retail with Tesco, a programme run by the Trust in partnership with Tesco to give unemployed young people the skills and experience they need to find work in the retail sector.
He said: “Getting that chance to change meant everything and after the course I got a job with Tesco and was then invited to be a Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador.”
After completing a college course in Social Services and volunteering at a prison working with male prisoners, he is now in his second year of a Social Work degree at the University of Edinburgh.
He has also contributed to think tank focus groups helping to inform the Scottish Government on issues such as mental health, poverty and violent crime.
As well as studying, Reece is working part-time as a Mungo Foundation support worker with adults with disabilities.
Reece, who has met Prince Charles through his volunteer work, said: “Talking at events about my life and about The Trust and the issues facing young people felt good. It made me feel proud of how far I’ve come. I now see my career in mental health. I want to draw on my experiences to help others.
“I want to pay it forward 100 per cent. Yes I was dealt an unlucky hand in life but that doesn’t mean I can’t change my future and that of others by encouraging them to get help before it’s too late.
“I have to pinch myself sometimes because I can’t believe how I can be two different people - the person I was then and the person I am now.”
He added: “I think my mum would be extremely proud of me, especially going to university. I resented her when I was growing up but now that I am older I can understand the mental health issues she was battling and I realise why she acted in the way she did. When she died a few year ago, the resentment faded away and I realised life is too short and it’s up to me to make the most of it.”
Reece is one of 11 unsung heroes who will be honoured at the inaugural Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards, in partnership with TSB.
The glittering show, hosted by Elaine C. Smith and Kirsty Gallacher, will be broadcast on Hogmanay and will include performances by McFly, Tom Walker and a special rendition of Auld Lang Syne led by Sir Billy Connolly.
- Don’t miss the show on STV on Hogmanay at 10.45pm
