Musa Musa, Toni Lamont and Paula McPhail have overcome extraordinary challenges to build brighter futures and help others.
They have overcome challenges that would stop many people in their tracks.
From fleeing conflict and starting over in a new country, to turning personal struggles into a force for good, Musa Musa, 23, Toni Lamont, 25, and Paula McPhail, 26, have all shown extraordinary courage, resilience and determination.
Despite the obstacles they have faced in their young lives, all three are now building bright futures, pursuing careers they are passionate about and making a real difference in communities across Scotland.
Their inspiring journeys have earned them a place as finalists in The King’s Trust Young Achiever category at this year’s Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards with P&O Cruises.
All three have been supported by youth charity The King’s Trust, which has helped more than one million young people across the UK into work, training and education since it was founded in 1976.
Now their achievements are being recognised on one of Scotland’s biggest stages, with the category winner set to be revealed at the star-studded Pride of Scotland at Glasgow’s Hilton on Monday night.
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Ahead of the ceremony, which will be hosted by Elaine C Smith and Sanjeev Kohli and attended by a myriad of stars, we take a closer look at the incredible stories behind three remarkable young people – and how they have transformed adversity into success.
Paula McPhail, 26, Ayr
Paula has never let Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) define her.
Adopted at a young age, Paula faced daily challenges growing up. But with the support of her mum, she turned those struggles into a powerful mission to help others.
Seeing a huge gap in support for people affected by FASD and other brain-based conditions, Paula’s mum founded Oshay’s Brain Domain – a charity and contact centre offering vital advice, guidance and support.
Paula was determined to be part of it, but a lack of confidence and difficulty communicating one-to-one left her feeling held back.
Everything changed when she joined the Team programme.
At first Paula stayed quiet and kept herself to herself. But before long, she was stepping up to support others on the course and quickly became someone everyone turned to. Her confidence grew every day as she pushed herself beyond her comfort zone.
Soon Paula became the voice of the group – encouraging others, boosting morale and helping classmates believe in themselves.
When the programme ended, Paula was invited to volunteer as an Assistant Team Leader and has now completed her first term in the role.
Alongside college, Paula also speaks at FASD conferences, offers one-to-one support across Ayr and runs support groups for people with brain-based conditions.
Toni Lamont, 25, Dumfries and Galloway
For Toni, a love of nature has grown into a thriving business helping young people connect with the outdoors.
The 25-year-old spotted a gap in her local community – there simply wasn’t an inclusive space where children and young people could learn about nature and explore Scotland’s wildlife.
So, she created one.
Toni launched her own Forest School, giving young people the chance to get outdoors, build confidence and discover the natural world around them.
“Forest School is not only about getting outdoors,” said Toni. “It’s about environmental education, conservation, mental health and wellbeing. It’s about building a sense of stewardship in our young people for our natural world.”
Growing up in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Toni says she missed out on those opportunities herself.
Raised in a working-class family, Toni worried starting a business might be financially out of reach. But with support from The King’s Trust and help from her Youth Development Lead, she developed a business plan and secured funding through a Test My Business Idea grant.
That allowed Toni to run outdoor workshops during the summer holidays and the response was incredible.
Children loved learning new skills, building resilience and connecting with their local forests, while Toni gathered valuable feedback that helped her secure a Start-Up grant.
After years working as a countryside ranger and earning a degree in Wildlife and Conservation Management, Toni finally turned her passion into a career.
Now she’s helping the next generation fall in love with Scotland’s wild spaces – one adventure at a time.
Musa Musa, 23, Glasgow
After fleeing Sudan as a teenager and arriving in the UK seeking safety, Musa faced an uncertain future.
When he reached Glasgow in 2024 after being granted Humanitarian Protection, he found himself alone in a new city with no job, limited English and temporary accommodation. The future felt overwhelming.
“When I first came to The King’s Trust Centre, I wasn’t excited because there was fear and depression inside of me,” Musa said. “I did not have a goal, but The King’s Trust helped me.”
Determined to build a new life, Musa threw himself into every opportunity available and joined The King’s Trust Explore programme.
Over 12 weeks, he improved his English and communication skills, grew in confidence and began settling into life in Glasgow. His positivity quickly made an impact.
Each time Musa came to the centre, he brought energy and encouragement to the group. He became a familiar face for other young people with English as a second language, helping with translation, offering advice and making others feel welcome.
With support from The King’s Trust and a volunteer who helped with CV writing, interview preparation and job applications, Musa began applying for work.
Last year, with additional support from the Scottish Refugee Council, he secured a full-time role with a construction and landscaping company.
Now working across Scotland, learning new specialist skills and building a future for himself, Musa says The King’s Trust changed everything.
“It helped me believe in myself again,” he said. “I got back the smile that was missing in my life.”
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