Meet the heart of the CDS vehicle: our pupils. Just like drivers behind the wheel, they're steering their own paths towards personal and professional growth. With their hands on the wheel, they're making crucial decisions, navigating the course of their learning, and ultimately controlling the direction and destination of their journey.
Meet Grace
She passed her driving test in 2024 and credits us with saving her life. She says herself, now she feels able to use the word future about herself. It was a very emotional time when she passed with us as Grace has fought dreadful mental health issues which resulted in a suicide attempt.
The combination of learning to drive and our back to work training has saved her and she is now a fully qualified tattoo artist.
Meet Keeley
She passed her driving test in 2022 and has had to overcome terrible abuse from childhood and a fear of driving and men.
Keeley is an inspiring person with a HUGE heart and runs a domestic abuse charity which helps so many facing brutality in a relationship. She says of passing her test "It gave me my "keys to freedom" and I can now drive to these victims of abuse without relying on others".
Meet David
David passed his test in 2022 and this changed his life. David is a full time carer for his older brother.
David said of passing his test "This will allow me to take my brother to his hospital appointments without relying on taxi's and the expense this imposes on us".
Meet Bashir
He passed his driving test in 2022.
He is an inspiring young man who is a qualified pharmacist, but was forced to flee his home due to violence.
He wants to work in the NHS as a pharmacist as he loves the ethos of being part of helping people overcome their own illnesses. He says "Without CDS, I would be another unemployed statistic".
Meet Tom
He passed his driving test in 2020 and has had to overcome losing a father. Then as a result of the palliative care he provided, his job, girlfriend and home.
Tom was referred to us and he was in a bad head space. He felt he had no future, so was just living each day on the streets. Since working with us, he has a home and his own business. He says "The sponsorship CDS is given, changes lives and has given me the ability to start my own business. I have seen the results of what they do and I urge people to get involved".
Meet Sophie
She passed her driving test in 2021 and has had to overcome a family trauma that nearly broke her when her younger sister took her own life in 2020.
Sophie is another inspiring person with a future. She was originally referred to us in 2018 when she was volunteering to help her fellow pupils at school when they were struggling with school life. She did this on her own initiative which really does reflect who she is. She says of CDS that we helped her through her sisters suicide and gave her the support she needed. She is now a mental health nurse helping others face their own battles.
Meet Tyne
She passed her driving test in 2019 and has had to overcome terrible domestic.
She says of CDS and the support she received "It has changed my life which allowed me to have a family that I was told I would never have. They gave me the confidence and self-belief that I can do life and be who I want to be".
The pride we felt at Tyne passing her test is reflected in this photo.
Meet Davi
He passed his test in 2021 and has overcome addiction to now be a successful self-employed painter and decorator.
He was in a bad place when he was referred to us and knew he had to change his ways or end up dead. Davi took to our course with such energy and positivity that we knew he would do this and be successful. He says "This changed and saved my life and allowed me to be a positive role-model for people thinking they cannot be part of a community without drugs".
