News
TRH present The Prince's Trust Celebrate Success Awards at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
20th February 2006
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall presented awards to some of Britain's most inspiring young people today in an event that kick-starts the 30th anniversary celebrations of The Prince's Trust.
Their Royal Highnesses attended The Prince's Trust Celebrate Success Awards at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, to celebrate the achievements of young people from across the country who have overcome barriers in their lives.
They were joined by a host of Trust Ambassadors including June Sarpong, Pierce Brosnan, Joseph Fiennes, Jade Jagger, Gary Lineker, Jenson Button, Will Young and Lemar who came to recognise the achievements of young people and to show their support for the Trust in its 30th anniversary year.
In a speech The Prince, who set up the charity in 1976 with his severance pay from the Royal Navy, said: “The celebrations this year have caused me to think a little bit about what motivated me all those years ago.
“I still believe that every young person has some talent or ability and that too many go through life without this ever being discovered and unlocked.
“The result is an often overpowering lack of self worth and self confidence and a sense of belonging nowhere and mattering to no one.”
“Many of these young people of course are dismissed as youths, hoodies or thugs or whatever. But they are not faceless and nameless. They are individuals and all I want my Trust to do is to invest in their futures so that they can live lives which are fulfilling and rewarding for themselves, their families, their communities and their country.”
The Prince told guests that the Trust was helping 100 young people every day, but he added there was still so much more to do.He said: “There are one million young people under the age of 25 who are not in work, education or training. That is the equivalent to more than the population of Birmingham who are in danger of being utterly lost.”
“We know that too many of them find themselves in prison, or worse.”
He said it was the Trust‘s job to make sure these young offenders did not become old offenders.
Among those who received awards at the special ceremony was 29-year-old Kynda Carter, who won the RBS Enterprise Award.
Mr Carter was sent to prison after repeated offending and drug use. While serving his sentence he discovered he had a talent for carpentry in a prison workshop.
The Prince's Trust gave him a start-up loan and he now runs a business in Hertford making pine beds and specialist staircases.
“It isn't always about what you do. It's about what you can achieve,” he said after collecting his award.
Mr Carter added: “I knew I didn‘t want to go back inside. I knew I was worth more. To have my own business and to be able to work for myself and to have what I have got gives me a lot of satisfaction.
“If it wasn't for The Prince‘s Trust I would certainly have been in the same spiral of using and abusing.”
Rebecca White won the In-School Achiever Award, sponsored by General Electric. She had become withdrawn after persistent bullying at school but now has gained confidence after joining the xl programme and is training to be a veterinary nurse. After receiving the award, Rebecca thanked the charity for all its help and said: “I feel so happy.”
Pierce Brosnan presented 19-year-old Shenica Williamson with the Young Achiever of the Year award, which was supported by The Sun newspaper.
Shenica overcame a traumatic childhood, bullying at school and unemployment to complete an apprenticeship and start a career in community care, looking after children and the elderly.
After receiving the award, she said: “I feel so happy. It's brilliant that there's someone out there to recognise young people.
“I had a bad childhood and went through bullying at school. I just lost all confidence really. I didn't believe I could do anything. I see a brighter future now but I didn't before.”
The Sun's royal photographer Arthur Edwards presented Shenica with a special newspaper front page to celebrate her achievement.
Mitchell Buckley won the Skills Development Award, sponsored by Marks and Spencer. Mitchell was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 11 and as a result underachieved at school. After joining the Trust's team initiative, he has now completed a work placement in horticulture and is now on a forklift training course.
Dedicated youth worker and xl club advisor and coordinator Narene Skeffington-Burns from Northern Ireland received the Leadership Award, supported by the Technology Leadership Group.
The Delivery Partner Award, supported by the Learning and Skills Council, went to Stockton Riverside College, in the North East of England. The college runs Trust programmes such as Team, xl and European programmes and provides counselling services and information and guidance for young people.
Craig Melcher, National Web Manager for The Prince's Trust, won the Staff Be Exceptional Award supported by Nokia, and long-standing volunteer Tony Bradley from the West Midlands won the Volunteer of the Year Award held in memory of Sir Angus Ogilvy.
The BUPA Community Impact Award went to the Bulgaria Team Challenge, a group of nine then unemployed young people from Bedfordshire who travelled to Bulgaria to renovate a run-down children's orphanage, improving their skills and helping others.
During the show there was a performance by X Factor finalists Journey South, who bought music equipment using a Prince‘s Trust grant when they were struggling singer-songwriters.
Spooks actor David Oyelowo revealed to the audience that he too had been given financial support from The Prince's Trust which enabled him to attend the National Youth Music Theatre.
Looking at The Prince, David said: “I probably wouldn't have gone on to be an actor so thank you very much for that.”
Pauline O'Halloran, the first-ever person supported by The Prince's Trust, came on stage to tell the audience about her experiences 30 years ago.
In 1976 she was given a grant to set up a youth centre on Haggerston estate in the East End of London.
“It's great to see that so many young people today have been given the same opportunity that I was,” she said.
In celebration of 30 years of helping young people, Martina Milburn, Chief Executive of the Trust, presented The Prince and The Duchess with a book containing 30 letters and messages from young people helped over the years by the organisation.