From Darkness to Drive: How Car Washing Changed a Young Man's Life

Meet Luis Green, a 20-year-old from Bolton whose life took a positive turn during the Covid lockdowns. Battling mental health struggles and feeling lost after dropping out of college, Luis found a spark of joy and purpose by starting his own car-washing business, We Shine Any Car. Thanks to the support from local charities, including Genuine Futures and Entrepreneurs Unlocked, he received not only life-coaching but also practical guidance on customer interactions.

Luis expressed how picking up a sponge brought him both pride and satisfaction, with every customer’s compliment filling his heart with warmth. This entrepreneurial journey began at a scrapyard and has aimed to inspire others similarly situated. Sam Smith, a mentor from Genuine Futures who transformed his own life through a car wash in 1999, emphasizes the importance of instilling hope in youth seeking a way out of poverty and hopelessness by fostering entrepreneurship.

The program, backed by a £35,000 grant from Bolton Council, helped 40 young people refine their job prospects and acquire necessary skills for future endeavors. David Morgan from Entrepreneurs Unlocked highlighted how their initiative creates significant social value, reducing reliance on social services and unemployment benefits.

Alongside Luis’s journey, Jennifer Young, an 18-year-old also affected by the lockdowns, found her way through art. She turned to painting as a coping mechanism and has since launched her own art business, reflecting the transformative power of creativity and entrepreneurship in overcoming personal struggles. Together, these stories showcase the profound impact that community support and self-starting initiatives can have on reclaiming lives from the brink.