A MUM whose ill-health left her unable to work for a year has launched her own business in Colchester town centre.

Kerry Easter, 24, was signed off sick for months after juggling her job at a beauty salon and caring for five-year-old daughter Felicity got too much.

However, with the help of the Prince’s Trust she gained the confidence to launch Scannellis, in Culver Square.

Kerry, of Baronswood Way, Colchester, said: “I managed to land a job at a salon in Halstead, it was a really lovely place.

“It was too much juggling it with Felicity and the travel and it all got on top of me and the doctor said I was not fit for work.

“I had scans, numerous doctor’s appointments and blood tests. I lost a considerable amount of weight and they couldn’t find out what it was, and I still don’t really know.”

Fortunately, Kerry is now back to health and feeling more settled.

During the year, she stumbled across the Prince’s Trust Explore Enterprise Programme.

She said: “I phoned up and booked an information session.

“I nearly didn’t go as I didn’t think it was going to be valuable.”

But at the session, held at Hythe Community Centre, Colchester, Kerry realised it held the key to opening another door in her life and was allocated a mentor.

A retired businessman helped her draw up a business plan for opening her own beauty salon and Kerry was given funding by the trust to help her open up.

It is now up and running with the help of her two other technicians and offers many treatments – some quite rare such as airbrush nail art and paraffin wax facials.

Kerry said her partner Timothy Jones and her mum Maureen Easter had been particularly helpful in getting the salon ready.

She added: “The salon is named after my grandmother, who moved here from Italy 65 years ago, Rosina Scannelli.

“She has always done everything in her power to help the family and been such an inspiration and that’s where the name came from, just a little thank you for all her hard work. Even now she's still helping with childcare and looking after my daughter.”

Culver Square centre manager, David Robertson, said: “It’s great to see young entrepreneurs being given a helping hand and support at the beginning of their venture.

I wish Kerry all the best in her new business.”

The Prince’s Trust supports 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.

It gives vulnerable young people practical and financial support to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work.