Finding Direction, Building Futures: Tyler’s Story

My name is Tyler West. I’m 16 years old, and I’ve been part of Hedzup for around five years.

I first became involved through school support at a time when my behaviour wasn’t always where it needed to be. Hedzup gave me a safe, structured environment where I could reset, build trust, and start to believe in myself. What began as support soon became something I chose to commit to, and I went on to become a regular at the Friday night sessions.

Through Hedzup, I was given opportunities I’d never had before. Attending my first race meeting at Knockhill was a turning point. It led to further experiences, including staying at East Fortune and taking part in a two-week trip to the Isle of Man. At race meetings, I’m trusted with real responsibility — helping with race preparation, tyre changes, removing tyre warmers, and supporting mechanical checks to make sure the bike is safe and ready for competition. Being trusted to do meaningful work built my confidence and showed me what I was capable of when given the right support.

The confidence I developed through Hedzup also transferred directly into my archery. Having a consistent support network, clear expectations, and people who believed in me gave me the mindset to compete at national level and represent Scotland. I’m a three-time indoor champion and a two-time outdoor champion in my age group. Last year, I finished fourth at the National Indoor Championships. This year, I represented Scotland at the Home Nations Cup, where the team placed third overall and I finished sixth individually. I also competed at the Senior National Indoor Championships, placing 60th out of 180 competitors.

After leaving school, I knew traditional education wasn’t the right path for me, but I also knew I needed direction. With the support of my mum and the Hedzup team, I worked through the Options programme and was helped to understand my strengths, improve my confidence, and prepare for the world of work. That support played a key role in me securing an electrical apprenticeship with a local company that recognised my potential, attitude, and willingness to learn.

Through Hedzup, competitive sport, and real-world experience, I’ve developed discipline, teamwork, practical skills, and resilience. Most importantly, Hedzup helped me build the confidence to step forward, take responsibility, and turn opportunities into real outcomes.

Ian Pert, Director at Hedzup, said:

“Tyler’s journey through Hedzup is exactly why the programme exists. From the outset, he showed potential, but more importantly, he showed a willingness to listen, learn, and take responsibility. Over time, he has taken the lessons, experiences, and expectations placed on him and turned them into real progress. He has grown in confidence, maturity, and self-belief, and he’s applied that growth not only in motorsport and archery, but in how he approaches life and work. Seeing Tyler secure an apprenticeship and succeed at national level in sport is a genuine success story. He’s taken what was offered, put the work in, and made something positive of his future — and he should be very proud of that.”

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