A Shropshire employability programme has been credited with transforming the life of a 27-year-old man from Shawbury who lost his catering job during the coronavirus pandemic. Michael Reynolds began volunteering at Fordhall Farm in Market Drayton nine months ago after being referred by his Jobcentre work coach while struggling with his mental health, confidence and sense of direction, and the scheme has since helped him rebuild both.

Reynolds is one of more than 1,350 young people supported by the employability and enterprise programme, which is delivered by four charities across Shropshire and funded by the Lintel Trust since 2024. At the farm he has taken on tasks including conservation work, woodwork and event setup, gaining enough confidence to attend independently after initially going with his mother, and farm volunteer lead Alison Fowler said his confidence and friendships with other volunteers have grown noticeably.