The Prince’s Trust does excellent work, helping develop key skills, confidence and motivation among young people, particularly those who need it most, enabling them to move into work, education or training, and literally helping to change lives.

This week I had the pleasure of meeting a group of young people here in the city to congratulate them on completing the Prince’s Trust Team programme.

As part of the programme, the students spent a residential week in Dartmoor doing team-building; they revived gardens at two local primary schools (St Christophers, Hove and Fairlight Primary); and they fundraised for the First Base day centre and for Pebbles Afterschool Club.

They also undertook work placements in a wide variety of settings.

The highlight of the evening was hearing the stories of the young people: time and again they described how the support of the Prince’s Trust gave them a sense of self-worth and an understanding that they were valued and had a role to play in society.

Against a background of record youth unemployment, the event was a clear reminder of how devastating it can be if young people feel that education and opportunities are out of their reach.

And it was inspiration to continue challenging the Government to support young people and to increase, rather than cut, opportunities for jobs and training.  

Back row, left to right: Yeliz Topcuoglu, Moira Vincent (Programme Well Being officer), Seyde Salih, Gemma Robins, Caroline, Hope Goble, Kyle Holman (Team Leader), Kamilah Talib

Front row, left to right: Reuben, Josh Saunders, Miles Hood, Ollie Sutton, Chris Sherrin, Ty Scott