The Prince’s Trust addresses these issues by giving practical and financial support to the young people who need it most. They help develop key skills, confidence and motivation, enabling young people to move into work, education or training.
Established in 1976 by HRH The Prince of Wales, The Trust helps nearly 50,000 young people each year. In the East Midlands it helps nearly 2,500 within its various programmes.
The Trust is a “targeted” organisation meaning that it supports those young people who are the most disadvantaged. These are young people who unemployed, those who are underachieving in education, those in or leaving care and ex-offenders.
Programmes to support young people
The Prince’s Trust run programmes that encourage young people to take responsibility for themselves, helping them build the life they choose rather than the one they’ve ended up with:
• The Business Programme provides money and support to help young people aged between 18-30 to start up in business. The Trust helps almost 300 young people per annum to set up in business. It is now fully integrated as part of the regional Business Link start-up service and also co-delivers the Enterprise Ecologies programme, funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Key to the success of The Trust’s Business programme is the input it receives from volunteer business mentors. The Trust is always on the lookout for new mentors.
• The Team Programme is a 12-week personal development course for young people aged 16-25, offering work experience, qualifications, practical skills, community projects and a residential week. The Trust runs nearly 30 Team programmes each year in the East Midlands in partnership with Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire Fire & rescue Service, Derby College and Tresham Institute.
• Get Intos are short courses offering intensive training and experience in a specific sector to help young people aged between 16-25 to get a job.
• Development Awards are small grants to enable young people aged between 14-25 to access education, training or work.
• Community Cash Awards are grants to help young people aged between 14-25 to set up a project that will benefit their community.
• xl clubs give 14-16 year olds who are at risk of truanting, exclusion and underachievement a say in their education. They aim to improve attendance, motivation and social skills. The Trust co-delivers more than 50 xl clubs in partnership with schools in the East Midlands.
Raising funds
To continue this vital work The Trust needs to raise around £1 million every week. They rely upon generous giving and fundraising from a huge variety of people. The Trust has developed a range of innovative programmes that help companies to develop their staff whilst raising funds for its work.
Success Stories
• Business
A recent business success is Naqsh. Zenab Valimohamed had been long-term unemployed before she approached The Prince’s Trust for support from the Business Programme. Naqsh, a women’s boutique founded by Zenab opened in June 2007, stocking a range of clothes and accessories that appeal to Asian and Western customers alike. Since then her business has really taken off and she recently moved to larger premises on East Park Road , surrounded by Indian clothes shops and restaurants. The official launch was attended by local MPs, residents and business people. To listen to Zenab’s story go to (insert hyper link to Streak Speak).
• Community programmes
Harmless is a user led organisation that provides a range of services about self harm including support, information, training and consultancy to people who self harm, their friends and families and professionals. Supported by The Prince’s Trust in its early stages of development via a Community Cash Award, the Nottingham based group has gone on to achieve national recognition. To learn more about the work of Harmless visit www.harmless.org.uk
To find out more about The Prince’s Trust call the East Midlands office on 0116 2550400, freephone on 020 75431200 or visit www.princes-trust.org.uk