A BURY man who struggled to find work now has a blossoming career as an apprentice gardener after signing up to Six Town Housing’s Steps to Success programme.

Anthony Whitestone had a property to run, two young children to support, and lived day to day with very little money, with no idea of what he wanted to do.

As a Six Town Housing tenant, he was able to access a free, intensive one week training course to get him ready for work and build on his strengths, giving him the confidence to pursue a career in horticulture.

The 25-year-old volunteered to work with JC Groundworks, a local landscape company, and was involved in a project in Mossfield Close, Bury. This led to him being offered a short-term casual labourer's position.

Six Town Housing then offered Anthony a tenant work placement with their neighbourhood caretaking team, providing him with a bursary to study a professional City and Guilds course in horticulture.

Anthony said: “Before I started, we were struggling with benefits and there was no money for us to do anything. Six Town Housing gave me a bursary for a college course in gardening, which I love. I now know that this is the career I want to do until I retire.

“I have developed a lot and am more confident. Now I can occasionally take the kids out for the day and the missus out for a meal. I used to feel down, but now I feel a million dollars.”

Maria Worthington, Six Town's business manager for neighbourhoods, said: "Anthony makes a positive impact in local neighbourhoods on a daily basis helping to improve the look of Six Town Housing’s estates and communal areas. He is a shining example of what can be achieved when opportunity knocks and you open the door.”

“Six Town Housing is committed to helping people who live in our communities into jobs by offering support, placements, traineeships, apprenticeships, work experience and mentoring.”