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15th February 2012

New Prince’s Trust scheme will help 100,000 young unemployed this year 

HRH The Prince of Wales visited the headquarters of his youth charity The Prince’s Trust today to announce 100 new jobs for unemployed young people - who will then help a further 100,000 young people to find work.

The new scheme will see young people, who have faced long-term unemployment and transformed their lives with help from The Prince’s Trust, employed as ‘Job Ambassadors’ to help other jobless youngsters.

The announcement is a direct response to the recent record-breaking youth unemployment levels – which hit 1.04 million last month.

Martina Milburn, chief executive of The Prince’s Trust, says:

"We know that long-term unemployment can be demoralising - crushing self-esteem and derailing ambition. The young people we are employing will have lived through this. They will be able to share their own experiences with today’s unemployed young people and - crucially - give them the inspiration, advice and guidance they need to find a job."

West Midlands launch

The Job Ambassador initiative will launch in the West Midlands, where Wolverhampton has one of the highest youth unemployment rates. It will then be rolled out across the country, focussing on other unemployment hotspots – particularly helping the long-term unemployed.

Kirt Tabberer- Job Ambassador

Kirt, 21, from Droitwich in the West Midlands, is one of the first to be employed as a Job Ambassador by The Trust.

Kirt had a troubled teenage life after family difficulties left him unable to complete his education. At the age of 15, Kirt’s grandfather became seriously ill so his family temporarily moved so they could be with him. Kirt struggled to keep up with his work and, before long, had left school.

He spent the next few years unemployed and struggling to find work. He said: “Without any qualifications I couldn’t get a place at college and I found it really hard to find work. I felt like other people could offer employers more than I could.” Kirt’s self-esteem hit at an all-time low. He then came across The Prince’s Trust Team programme – a 12-week personal development course which gives young people skills and confidence for work.

Kirt said: “The Team programme quite simply changed my life. My confidence began to grow as I realised that there were opportunities out there for me. The qualification I gained also got me a place at college. I finally started to believe that I could do something with my life.

Kirt completed college in the summer of 2011 and has since volunteered at Worcestershire County Council as a Youth Work Helper and in the education department at Severn Valley Railway.

Kirt adds:

Kirt will be one of an army of 100 young people recruited and trained up by The Trust this year. They will give inspirational talks based on their own experiences and provide one-to-one support and guidance, helping others like them prepare for work.

Support the scheme

Martina Milburn adds: “We’re calling on businesses and individuals to help us grow the scheme. We aim to reach 300,000 young people over the next three years – but with more support we can reach many more.

Last year, more than three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust moved into work, education or training.

HRH visited The Prince's Trust headquarters to launch the new initiative.

Watch HRH The Prince of Wales's full speech here.

Would you like to be a Job Ambassador?

• Register your interest here