Charles has spoken of his ‘great pride’ in the charity he founded half a century ago, The King’s Trust, with his reflecting on five decades of work supporting disadvantaged young people across the UK.
Formerly known as The Prince’s Trust, the charity was set up by Charles in 1976 to help disadvantaged young people overcome challenging circumstances, get into employment or launch their own businesses.
Founded by Charles using his Navy severance pay of £7,400, the charity began as a small initiative during a period of soaring unemployment, inflation and social unrest. Its mission was simple but ambitious – to help young people overcome barriers, develop confidence and skills, and find pathways into work, education or entrepreneurship.
The Trust has since become one of the UK’s leading youth organisations and has helped more than 1.3 million young people to date, with over 92,000 helped to start their own businesses. Additionally, celebrity ambassadors including former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate and TV presenters Ant and Dec have come on board to champion the charity’s mission.
In a video message released to mark the 50th anniversary of The Trust, formerly known as The Prince’s Trust prior to Charles’ accession, the Monarch paid tribute to the millions of young people whose lives have been shaped by the organisation since its creation in 1976.
Reflecting on the charity’s evolution, The King said: ‘Over the last 50 years, the work of my trust has proved beyond doubt that supporting young people through personal development and the acquisition of self-confidence and self-esteem can make a real difference and transform lives’.
Speaking from Clarence House, he admitted that the scale of the charity’s impact had far exceeded his early hopes. ‘When I began what is now The King’s Trust in 1976, I could not possibly have imagined the impact that it would have’ he said.
‘In the beginning, I hoped that by supporting young people to develop their latent skills and to find work or training, the Trust would perhaps be able to help change some individuals’ lives for the better.’
He continued: ‘Now, as you can perhaps imagine, I am so very pleased and proud that the Trust’s work continues to go from strength to strength, having in that time helped over 1.3 million young people grow their confidence, continue in education, secure sustainable jobs and, in the UK alone, supported over 92,000 young people to start a business, thus enabling them all to build brighter futures’.
The King reaffirmed the founding principle that has guided the charity for half a century: that young people, when given the right support, can make an ‘enormous contribution’ to society. ‘While the challenges young people face may change with the times, their spirit and resilience remain constant’ he said.
‘My trust will continue to stand beside them, building confidence and skills for the ever-changing world of work, so that they can go on to have stable and fulfilling lives for many years to come’.
The Trust’s anniversary comes alongside new research showing the scale of its economic and social impact. According to its latest analysis, the charity has contributed at least £11.4 billion to society since its founding. In the last decade alone, an estimated £3.9 billion in social value has been generated through improved outcomes for young people, including £2.6 billion from supporting them into employment, self-employment or volunteering, and £785 million from increased wellbeing.
Continuing to mark its 50th anniversary, the organisation will publish its anniversary impact report, 50 Years of Working for Young People, supported by long-standing partner TK Max. The report will explore young people’s current attitudes, aspirations and concerns about their futures.
