Starbucks and The Prince’s Trust

Starbucks LogoAs a Platinum Patron of The Trust, Starbucks has pledged £1 million to help give unemployed young people the skills, motivation and work experience to get a job or secure training.

In 2008, The Prince’s Trust and Starbucks Coffee Company launched an exciting five-year partnership to transform the lives of thousands of young people in the UK. Starbucks’ support focuses on our Team programme, which runs in communities throughout the UK and supports around 9,000 young people each year. Last year more than 10,000 young people joined the programme - the largest the programme has been for over 10 years.

The programme also offers one-day volunteering opportunities for Starbucks employees, who run interview and CV writing workshops with our young people across the UK.

Having the support of a company like Starbucks is an exceptional opportunity for The Prince’s Trust, enabling us to help more disadvantaged young people into work, which is particularly important during the economic downturn.

                                    -  Martina Milburn, Chief Executive, The Prince’s Trust

 

Starbucks fundraisingOur partnership is focused on getting young people into work experience and jobs in the UK. Starbucks is one of our largest providers of work experience and has provided over 80 young people with work placements, with that number set to grow in 2012. Starbucks also work with The Trust to offer young people a career path through the Starbucks Apprenticeship programme.

Young people throughout the UK have found their experience in Starbucks stores has helped boost their self-esteem and job prospects. To find out how Starbucks helped Prince’s Trust Team participant Ashleigh Chulk please click here.

With nearly 50 per cent of our 10,000 partners aged between 16 and 24 we know that young people are reservoirs of creativity and talent. They are great assets to our business and many employees choose to build their careers at Starbucks. We will work with young people to train and support them to progress through our business - it’s a fantastic career option.

                                         - Claire Levens, Head of Public Affairs, Starbucks

 

Starbucks Employees – supporting our young people

Since the partnership was launched, over 300 Starbucks employees have volunteered for The Trust, raising much-needed funds through skydives, coffeehouse parties and participating in Prince’s Trust events such as Million Makers. See what Starbucks Store Manager, Tim Robinson, from York has been up to.

In April 2011, Tim Robinson, undertook a six day, 151 mile endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco in aid of The Prince’s Trust.

 

See what Tim had to say about the challenge …

 

Tell us a little about Marathon de Sables. Why did you decide to run the marathon?

"The Marathon de Sables is a 6 day, 151 mile footrace across some of the harshest terrain on the planet. It was dubbed by CNN “the hardest foot race on earth” which I think is why it appealed to me as I love challenges. Competitors are completely self sufficient for the race apart from carrying water and daytime temperatures can exceed 45 degrees. My dad was a long distance athlete and I always remember growing up watching all these races on television and dreaming of one day participating."

 

Why are you supporting The Prince’s Trust?

"When it was announced that Starbucks had a partnership with The Prince's Trust I decided it was something that I’d like to get involved with. In 1999 my sister was really struggling with direction. She'd left school at 16 at was living on her own in a small bedsit. The Prince's Trust gave her the opportunity to work with the National Youth Theatre painting backdrops and sets. She loved it so much that with The Trust’s help she returned to college and then went to university to study art. She ended up with a 1st from Falmouth University and is now a teacher. She never forgets the help she received from The Trust and I’ve seen firsthand the difference that they can make to someone’s life."

 

Chris Morrison

Chris's story

The partnership between Starbucks and The Trust created a brilliant opportunity for Chris Morrison.

Find out how

Ashleigh's story

Ashleigh Chulk found an opportunity at Starbucks after completing The Prince's Trust Team programme.

Find out more