Saleemah Batan, 25, from Manchester, faced severe physical, mental, and emotional health challenges, but refused to let her circumstances define her future. She is now a finalist for the Pride of Britain King's Trust Young Achiever Award.
In 2020, she began experiencing unexpected daily seizures while attempting to work. Receiving an epilepsy diagnosis brought clarity, but navigating a new health condition proved difficult.
A life turned upside down
Saleemah says: "Before I found The Kings Trust, my life had completely fallen apart."
Her situation worsened when a dream job offer ended abruptly - her contract was terminated after just a few months due to her health. Sinking into deep depression and unable to see a future, Saleemah received crucial support from her mother, who persistently encouraged her to connect with The King's Trust. Saleemah eventually agreed to join a Get Started course, which began rebuilding her self-belief.
Finding support and purpose
Tragedy struck again when her uncle became critically ill. After Saleemah recovered from a health scare and hospital stay, she enrolled onto The Trust's 12 week Team programme.
Surrounded by supportive peers, she rebuilt her confidence, found effective medication to manage her epilepsy, and volunteered with the Ribble Rivers Trust.
Saleemah says: "Before I found The Kings Trust, my life had completely fallen apart. I was struggling physically, mentally, and emotionally. I didn't plan to live past my early 20s.
"It couldn't have come at a better time. I felt like I'd been drowning at sea and The Trust came along on a little ship and threw me a life jacket. For 12 special weeks, I was surrounded by people who supported me, encouraged me, and helped me slowly rebuild my confidence and my belief in myself."
Giving back as a mentor
The experience helped Saleemah discover a passion for guiding youth. Today, she serves as a Lead Mentor on the Mosaic Programme, working alongside school staff, supporting fellow mentors, and helping young people build their confidence and aspirations. She uses her platform to show students that multiple paths to success exist and that having just one person believe in them can transform their lives.
In 2026, The King's Trust reaches its golden 50th anniversary, alongside a 25-year legacy of recognising exceptional young talent through the Pride of Britain Awards. Together with P&O Cruises and the Daily Mirror, the charity has spent 25 years celebrating resilient individuals who represent the absolute best of Britain. With over 1.3 million young lives transformed across five decades, Saleemah is one of the exceptional finalists carrying that legacy forward today.
