Sarfraz Aslam was going nowhere in life.

Claiming benefits and spending his days hanging around with a gang of peers who had no interest in making anything of their lives, he became stuck in a downward spiral of hopelessness.

Hearing about youth charity The Prince’s Trust was a turning point. Sarfraz, of Bradford, applied to join the charity’s Get Into Construction course to gain the confidence and skills to find a job. Gradually, life became more positive. He had a routine, something to get out of bed for, and his confidence soared.

Now Sarfraz works as a security guard and describes himself as a different person.

“The Prince’s Trust staff gave me their support – they knew I could succeed and how to bring it out of me. I’m so grateful. For the first time, I’m proud of my own achievements,” he says.

The 23-year-old has been nominated for the Aagrah Breakthrough Award in an awards scheme organised by The Prince’s Trust and L’Oréal Paris Celebrate Success Awards, honouring disadvantaged young people supported by the Trust who have succeeded against the odds, improved their lives and had a positive impact on their community. The awards will be presented in Leeds next week.

Aagrah managing director Mohammed Aslam said: “The Breakthrough Award recognises young people who have shown strength and determination to overcome barriers and turn their lives around. We congratulate Sarfraz.”

Sarfraz is one of several young people from Bradford in line for Prince’s Trust awards.

Selina Aziz-Gregoire, 27, is up for the Horncastle Young Ambassador Award. A difficult home life led to her becoming isolated and depressed. After successfully applying for a Prince’s Trust community cash award – a grant to help set up community schemes – Selina ran a play scheme for eight to 13-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds.

She became a Young Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and, after receiving a business loan from the charity, set up Big Star Entertainment, providing female DJs and chauffeurs for events. Selina also mentors young people and helps youth groups set up enterprises.

“The Prince’s Trust has supported me through difficult times. Now I feel proud to give something back and change young people’s lives,” she says.

Nathan Hughes, of Bingley, struggled to find an apprenticeship after leaving college at 17. When he couldn’t find work for five months, he decided to start up his own business. A keen cyclist, he saw a gap in the market for a cheaper, more durable pedal-strap and, after experimenting with designs and materials, started adapting recycled seat belts sourced from Bradford scrapyards.

What started as a back-bedroom project has become a successful business, providing new designs for the cycling market. Nathan, now 20, turned his idea into reality thanks to a £1,800 business loan, and a mentor, from the Prince’s Trust.

Now Nathan is nominated for the RBS Enterprise Award, along with Arfan Naseer, 30, from Bradford.

Arfan, known as Naz, was five when his father died. As a youth he was in a gang and, aged 21, went to prison for a drug-related offence. He says prison officers were his first male role models and, facing up to his past, he set about making changes.

While in prison, he joined the Prince’s Trust Team programme and later worked for the charity, visiting schools to talk about life in prison and training young people to become youth workers.

Now he runs social enterprise Consequence. Working with Bradford Council and the police, Naz visits youth centres and schools, trying to deter youngsters from crime.

“Without the Prince’s Trust I don’t know where I’d be today,” he says. “Many young people I work with don’t have positive role models. I try and help them see an alternative path, learning from my mistakes.”

Set up by Prince Charles in 1976, the Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people find work, providing practical and financial support and developing workplace skills. It works with 13-to-30-year-olds who have struggled at school, been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.

One success story is Bradford magician Dynamo. As a teenager, living on Delph Hill estate, Steven Frayne received £2,000 from the charity to make a DVD showcasing his talents. Now, as Dynamo, he’s the UK’s top urban magician. Highlights from his recent TV show, Magician Impossible, have been released on DVD.

“I’ve achieved things I never thought possible,” says Dynamo. “The Prince’s Trust turned my life around.”