22/04/2024
CELEBRANT SARAH BAKER IS RAISING MONEY FOR THE PRINCE'S TRUST .. HERE IS JOE'S STORY, THE INSPIRATION BEHIND HER MARATHON ENDEAVOURS...
In June 2017, just days after his 17th Birthday, Joe McClure-Goddard joined the workforce of W.C. Littleproud & Son, on a two-week work experience placement arranged through The Prince's Trust. He is now in his 7th year with the company and continues to thrive and excel in his role as a Mortuary Technician.
Joe’s story was the inspiration behind the current fundraising endeavours of Sarah Baker, one of the Celebrants who works with us on a regular basis. Sarah is also the partner of Paul, who is the third generation of the Littleproud family to run the business.
On Sunday 28th April, Sarah will be taking part in the inaugural Norfolk Marathon – a circular route of 26.2 miles which starts and finishes in the popular seaside town of Cromer. As Sarah keeps reminding us, it is a route which proves that Norfolk most definitely isn’t flat!!
Sarah has chosen to raise money for The Prince's Trust because she felt so inspired by Joe’s career success and hopes her fundraising campaign will not only highlight the incredible work of the Trust, but also provide an opportunity to share Joe’s story.
Joe’s upbringing was difficult and for various reasons affecting his physical and mental health, he missed a lot of schooling. But what Joe lacked in formal qualifications, he more than made up for in tenacity and determination.
Joe helped his nan Sandra with the care of her elderly parents and was by the bedside of his great-nan as she took her last breath in hospital. In that moment, he knew he wanted to do a job which would enable him to care for people in the next stage of their journey, and in preparation for their funeral.
Joe was placed on a scheme with the Prince's Trust and told his mentor, Chantelle Williams, that he wanted to work in the mortuary of a funeral home. Quite an unusual career aspiration for a teenager, but Joe was clear and unwavering in his ambition.
Chantelle contacted Paul and told him about Joe, asking if he could come to the company on a short work experience placement. Paul, by his own admission, was reluctant at first. At the time, he and the team had just opened their new branch in Dereham so there was a lot going on. Working in a mortuary is a specialist field of work which requires the utmost care and discretion, and Paul wasn’t sure it was the right time to bring a young person into such an environment, especially someone who had been through some very difficult times in their homelife and who had so recently suffered the grief of losing a loved one.
But upon meeting Joe in person and hearing his story, Paul felt moved by his request and agreed to the placement.
At the end of the two weeks, Joe asked if he could continue to work there on a volunteer basis. He did so, not just coming in for the occasional day here and there but turning up for work every day to progress his learning and gain experience, which led to a permanent position with the company. Joe has proved to be an incredible asset to the team at Littleproud's and he cannot imagine working anywhere else!
Joe’s story epitomises the ethos of the Prince's Trust and Sarah says, “I am proud to be raising money for a charity that works so tirelessly to provide support, motivation and opportunities to young people who might otherwise find themselves on a very different path in life.”
As a company, we are very proud of Joe, just as we are grateful to Sarah for her endeavours in raising money for the organisation which brought him to us.
If you would like to support Sarah you can do so by following this link:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/sarah-baker-1710505435325?utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_donation_received_-_nth_donation&utm_content=22ec0b3a-9c82-41cb-b459-7be0ca8ffcf1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=postoffice&utm_term=1711968696495
Good luck on Sunday, Sarah. We will be cheering you on, up and down those Norfolk hills!
