Tag: Princes Trust

Empowering the Future of Fitness

Apply now – Career opportunities in the leisure industry thanks to the Prince’s Trust partnership with Edinburgh Leisure

In collaboration with The Prince’s Trust, Edinburgh Leisure is encouraging young people aged 16-30 years to apply to join a free ‘Get Into Lifeguarding with Edinburgh Leisure’ training course starting in February 2024.

The initial pre-selection day will take place at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre on 8th February 2024, after which selected candidates will be invited to take part in the free 3-week course. There are 10 places being offered.

The pre-employment programme aims to help young people aged 16-30 years get into jobs, education, and training, with a focus on becoming a lifeguard. 

The programme includes a pre-selection day; a week’s work experience at one of Edinburgh Leisure’s ‘wet’ sites under the mentorship of an Edinburgh Leisure staff member, who has received ‘shadow buddy’ training in advance from Edinburgh Leisure’s Learning & Development team; an NPLQ (National Pool Lifeguard Qualification) course; and job interview opportunities.

Travel expenses are reimbursed, and successful candidates receive up to six months of post-programme support.

Successful candidates would need to be available to take part in all the training days.  The programme schedule is:

8 February                              Pre-selection Day at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre

19-23 February                       NPLQ course at Portobello Swim Centre

26 February – 1 March           Work experience at one of Edinburgh Leisure’s venues

4 March                                   Interview experience

6 March                                   Post course celebration event at Meadowbank Sports Centre

Interested applicants should apply by Friday, 2nd February 2024 to be considered for this opportunity. Email matthew.rooney@princes-trust.org.uk with their name, telephone number and email address or alternatively apply via the Princes Trust website or call 0800 842 842.

Alyson Coats, Manager at Leith Victoria Swim Centre, and responsible for the partnership explained: “This will be the second time Edinburgh Leisure has run such a programme. 

“It’s a win-win – with young people having a great opportunity to learn with Edinburgh Leisure and gain valuable experience, which we hope sets them up for employment in the future, either with us or another opportunity in the leisure industry.  For many young people this could be life-changing for them.”

Lorenzo D’Silva came through the first cohort in July 2023, and secured a job as a lifeguard at the Royal Commonwealth Pool on finishing the course.

Lorenzo said: “The NPLQ course was only one week but the Prince’s Trust also gave us the opportunity to gain valuable skills in team building and interview techniques during the process which really helped when I was offered a job interview with Edinburgh Leisure. If you’ve not been in the mindset of getting a job it helps you to understand how to present yourself.

“I started working full-time in September at the Commie. It’s a great place to work with a great team. Everyone’s friendly and genuine and it’s a very inclusive place to work. There’s a great sense of camaraderie – like a big family, which is great as I come from one myself.”

The Prince’s Trust supports young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing the greatest adversity. The courses offered help young people aged 11-30 to develop essential life skills, get ready for work and access job opportunities.

Since The Trust was founded by HM The King in 1976, they have helped more than a million young people across the UK, and three in four of those supported over the last five years have moved into work, education, or training.

Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842. 

Scottish charity HorseBack UK chosen to deliver new Prince’s Trust Team Programme

Scottish charity HorseBack UK has been chosen to deliver the Prince’s Trust Team Programme, starting next January.

Aimed at young people aged 16-25, the Prince’s Trust Team Programme inspires and empowers participants to think about their future.  The emphasis is on teamwork, community, environment, wellbeing and future employment. 

The programme is based on HorseBack UK’s decade plus experience running its Military courses to empower serving and former military personnel suffering from both physical and mental life-changing injuries.

Using horsemanship and outdoor activities the charity delivers personal development programmes that encourage participants to acquire new coping strategies and life skills, and to build lasting resilience and leave with an official SQA qualification.

Horseback UK’s Schools Development Programmes have been successfully running for the past six years. With an emphasis on participation and personal development, teenagers participate in the same SQA Level 4 Certificate in Personal Development Through Horsemanship over a 15day programme.

The new Youth Development Programme, a 12-week course of personal development training and community engagement, has been created in collaboration with The Prince’s Trust and will be delivered as part of The Princes Trust Team Programme at HorseBack UK’s HQ in Dinnet, Aboyne.

Horseback UK is a charity based in Scotland and is supported by HRH the Duchess of Cornwall who is now the charity’s Royal Patron.  The Duchess shares a passion for horses, is a keen rider and understands the incredible emotional impact horses have on human recovery.  It is this emotional connection, along with HorseBack UK’s distinctive educational tools, that makes the charity leaders in mental health recovery.

Anxiety and depression are seriously affecting our young people, particularly following the Covid pandemic.

There is evidence of increasing anxiety and depression among young women aged 16 to 24 years in the UK, with nearly one-third (31%) reporting some evidence of depression or anxiety in 2017 to 2018; this is an increase from the previous year (26%) and the same period five years earlier (26%) (Source www.ons.gov.uk)

Evidence shows young people between 16 to 24 reported suffering more from some form of anxiety than other age groups (28%) and also of moderate to severe symptoms of depression (22%) (Source www.ons.gov.uk)

HorseBack UK delivers personal development programmes using horsemanship and outdoor activities that encourage participants to acquire new coping strategies, life skills and build lasting resilience.

The team at HorseBack UK is imperative to the success of the participants and each course leader has some form of mental health life experience that supports the delivery.

Throughout the programme participants will get the opportunity to take part in an Activity Residential, two Weeks Work Placement, Interview and CV building skills, a Community Project, The Prince’s Trust Certificate and Award in Employment, Teamwork and Community Skill, develop Presentation Skills, work with Horses and gain additional qualifications:

  • SQA Level 4 Personal Development Through Horsemanship.
  • SQA Level 4 Mental Health and Wellbeing.
  • John Muir Award (Discovery Level).

HorseBack UK provides a number of courses including Military, Community, Schools and Corporate. The Prince’s Trust Team Programme at HorseBack UK starts on Monday 31 January 2022.

Emma Hutchinson, co-founder of Horseback UK, said: “Everyone at Horseback UK is very excited to be delivering this programme for The Prince’s Trust. It’s a perfect fit. We are passionate about helping people with mental health challenges and The Prince’s Trust focuses on helping vulnerable young people get their lives on track.

“Horses are such wonderful creatures and they have proven time and again that they can really help young people reconnect with themselves and build their confidence and self-esteem to help them make the most of their lives.”

Old Bags show they ‘can-can’ help Scotland’s young people!

Over £760,000 Raised in One Afternoon!

This year’s Lunch with an Old Bag charity event on 6 September raised an astounding £760,000 to help change the lives of more than 760 young people supported by The Prince’s Trust Scotland. Continue reading Old Bags show they ‘can-can’ help Scotland’s young people!

Scottish businesses urged to help transform 100 young lives

Business leaders across Scotland are being asked to play a leading role in supporting the country’s young people by each donating £1,000 which will allow them to unlock their potential, develop new skills and ultimately transform their lives.  Continue reading Scottish businesses urged to help transform 100 young lives

Outstanding local youth workers nominated for national award

Two of the capital’s youth workers have been nominated for Scotland’s National Youth Work Awards for their work in bringing local young people and the wider community together. Coral Riddell, Prince’s Trust, based in Juniper Green and Katie Horsburgh, who leads the 193b City of Edinburgh Guides, have both been shortlisted for Volunteer of the Year.

Coral (above, right) volunteers as a Mentor with The Prince’s Trust, supporting young people to overcome barriers, believe in themselves and unlock their potential. Her commitment to one-to-one youth work means every young person she works with has secured a positive outcome, moving on to training or employment.

We can’t say it better than Lucy, a young woman Coral mentored in 2017. When they first met, Lucy had no confidence and was struggling to find work – now she’s a Visitor Assistant at the Scotch Whisky Experience, leading tours for hundreds of guests every day.

Lucy said: “When I first met Coral, I was anxious and lacked self-belief. Now I feel like a different person… She has truly inspired me and her mentoring has helped me to discover who I am as a person and how to follow my heart in everything I do.”

If there’s a fiercer advocate for girls and young woman in Scotland than Katie Horsburgh, then we haven’t found them.

Every week, Katie (above) volunteers as a Young Leader with the 193rd B City of Edinburgh Guides and leads girls in a wide range of activities, challenges and adventures. But at just 17, she is also fast becoming a high-profile campaigner for young women’s rights. Katie volunteers as an Advocate, representing Girlguiding nationally to speak out on a wide range of issues from period poverty to media sexism. As part of a national campaign to end sexual harassment in schools, Katie created a powerful film about girls’ experiences – she won a John Byrne Award for her creative efforts.

Most recently, Katie was invited to join the First Minister’s Advisory Council for Women and Girls where she’ll represent the views of Girlguiding Scotland’s 50,000 young members.

Commenting, CEO of YouthLink Scotland, Jim Sweeney MBE said: “We want to celebrate young people and the youth workers who make a difference.  Coral Riddell and Katie Horsburgh are an incredible illustration of youth work that literally changes lives.

“In every part of Scotland, every day, thousands of youth workers, many of them volunteers, are supporting young people to follow their dreams and realise their potential. At the heart of these Awards will be the voices of our young people, telling their youth work story.”

The National Youth Work Awards 2018 will be one of the events that celebrate Scotland’s first-ever Year of Young People. This national event, co-designed with young people, will showcase their amazing talents and will recognise the impact of youth workers on the lives of young people.

The Awards are all about celebrating the power of young people and the vital role of Scotland’s 80,000 youth work volunteers and staff in the lives of our young people.

Rachael McCully, aged 21 and Steven Mann, aged 23, from the YOYP Communic18 group, who are involved in co-designing the Awards said: “The National Youth Work Awards lets us celebrate the truly life changing work our youth workers are carrying out on a daily basis. It’s time for them to be recognised for the unbelievable work they do for the young people across the nation. We have the great pleasure of co-designing the awards this year and we are hoping to make it the best year so far.”

Minister for Childcare & Early Years Ms Maree Todd MSP said: “As part of the consultation for Year of Young People 2018, young people highlighted that they want to celebrate the important role supporting adults have on their lives. Thousands of young people across Scotland have silent champions, who work behind the scenes to raise aspirations and build young people’s confidence and skills.

“The National Youth Work Awards will provide an excellent platform during Year of Young People 2018 to shine a light on the life-changing role youth workers, volunteers and staff make to Scotland’s young people.”

The National Youth Work Awards will be held on Thursday 15 March 2018 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow, hosted by Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP.

To get involved visit the YouthLink Scotland website at www.youthlinkscotland.org

MSP welcomes criminal cashback for local groups

“This funding will support Pilton Youth and Children’s Project and The Prince’s Trust Scotland to continue to provide valuable services to our young people in Edinburgh Northern and Leith” – Ben Macpherson MSP

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Ben Macpherson MSP has welcomed the award of Cashback for Communities funding to Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP) and The Prince’s Trust Scotland. The fund disburses cash seized from criminals, and this year the scheme will see almost £2 million given to community groups across Scotland to help young people in disadvantaged areas – often the areas that suffer most from crime and antisocial behaviour. Continue reading MSP welcomes criminal cashback for local groups

Celebrating the Prince’s Trust

65,000 disadvantaged young people in Scotland have received support

TeamAndDevice560The Scottish Government highlighted the vital work of The Prince’s Trust in Scotland over the last ten years earlier this week. Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training Roseanna Cunningham visited the charity’s new Glasgow centre, currently under construction, to see their contribution to supporting young women and men into work, training and enterprise.

The new centre will enable the Trust to reach more young people in Scotland and support their more complex needs, provide a welcoming, safe and secure environment and bring together a range of services from across the public, private and third sectors to help young people to unlock their potential.

The Trust was set up in 1976 and has been operating Scotland wide throughout that period. 65,000 disadvantaged young people have been supported with the help of Scottish Government and European Structural funding over the last ten years.

Ms Cunningham met young people and staff at the new centre and said: “The Prince’s Trust is a genuine innovator in Scottish life with an incredible track record of supporting 65,000 young people towards a job or setting up their own business in the last ten years alone.

“I am very pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to support their work and will continue to do so over the coming years. Their new Glasgow headquarters will provide a state-of-the art nerve centre for their work across the country.

“Improving job opportunities for young people remains a priority for this government and the third sector has an important role to play. This morning we have also announced a further £6.1 million for Community Jobs Scotland which will help even more disadvantaged young people fulfil their potential.”

nov10_pt_1Allan Watt, Director of The Prince’s Trust Scotland, said: “To have made such a difference in such trying times for all young people says much about the talents of our staff and volunteer teams and the incredible support of our partners in the public and private sectors across Scotland.

“We can do more and look forward to taking ownership of the Youth Employment and Enterprise Hub in Scotland based in Glasgow City Centre. This new facility represents an exciting step forward for the Trust and its partners in Scotland that will allow us to work together as a team under the same roof to help more young people get jobs, start businesses and move back into education.

“We would love to hear from any young person who wants to find out what opportunities we can offer to help them have the successful future they deserve.”

Leith’s Naomi is Prince’s Trust Ambassador of the Year

HRH The Prince of Wales was joined by a host of celebrities on Tuesday (26 March) at The Prince’s Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards, which recognise young people who have overcome issues such as abuse, drug addiction, homelessness and depression. And shining bright among all those stars was a local lass – Leith’s Naomi Johnston, who was named Young Ambassador of the Year at the gala event hosted by Ant and Dec.

Dame Helen Mirren, Homeland star Damian Lewis and Luther actor Idris Elba were among guests gathered at London’s Leicester Square Odeon to pay tribute to young people who have transformed their lives with the help of youth charity The Prince’s Trust.

Naomi Johnston, 27, from Leith in Edinburgh won the Mappin and Webb Young Ambassador of the Year Award after overcoming homelessness, a violent attack and a chaotic lifestyle to become a Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador and using her own experiences to inspire and support other young people.

Dame Helen Mirren DBE said: “All the young people here today are truly inspirational. Their remarkable stories have blown me away. Naomi has overcome a great deal and I feel very privileged to have met her and presented her with this Prince’s Trust award. She has shown that with resilience and hard work you really can reach your potential and be an inspiration to other young people.”

Justin Stead, CEO of Mappin & Webb, said: “I would like to offer my most heartfelt congratulations to Naomi for winning the Mappin & Webb Young Ambassador of the Year Award. She is a fantastic Young Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust and I wish her every success in the future.”

Television presenters, Ant & Dec hosted The Prince’s Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards in front of the youth charity’s founder and president, HRH The Prince of Wales, and a 1,500 strong audience.

Other stars in attendance included rapper Tinie Tempah, producer Mark Ronson, actor Sam Claflin, presenter Laura Whitmore, actress Helen McCrory, interior designer Kelly Hoppen, and journalist Katie Adie OBE.

Athlete Victoria Pendleton attended having been earlier presented with a CBE by HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Laura Mvula, BRITs Critics Choice Award 2013 nominee, also performed at the event.

Youth charity The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people to get their lives on track. It supports 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. Three in four young people supported by The Trust move into work, education or training.

Samsung and The Prince’s Trust are now calling on local people to raise money to help more young people like Naomi. Text TRUST RED to 70555 to donate or visit www.samsunggoesred.co.uk to find out more.

Naomi Johnston Celebrate Success winner

MP visits Prince’s Trust

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MP for Edinburgh East Sheila Gilmore visited The Prince’s Trust Centre on Ferry Road last Friday to meet young people and discuss the impact of youth unemployment.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the MP to meet a group of under-16’s participating on The Trust’s Fairbridge programme, which focuses on developing key employability skills, as well as participating in a round-table discussion with Prince’s Trust Job Ambassadors who provided an in-depth insight into the challenges they faced whilst unemployed.

The effect unemployment has on young people is significant, according to recent research by The Prince’s Trust. The Youth Index, which gauges young people’s wellbeing across a range of areas from family life to physical health, found that around 33% of those surveyed claimed to feel down or depressed ‘always’ or ‘often’, and that one in five unemployed young people across the UK believe their confidence would never recover from their spell out of work.

Ms Gilmore also got an insight into the range of programmes offered by The Prince’s Trust as a means of engaging with unemployed young people or those struggling at school and at a risk of exclusion.
Sheila Gilmore MP said: “We know that periods of unemployment at a young age can have an adverse impact on people for the rest of their lives. The work that The Prince’s Trust does with young people to help them build up their skills and confidence is crucial in preventing this.”

Speaking after the MP’s visit, Heather Gray, Director of The Prince’s Trust, Scotland, said: “We were delighted to welcome Sheila Gilmore to our Edinburgh Centre. It provided a positive opportunity for Ms Gilmore to meet with young people and hear about the challenges they face in finding employment as well as to discuss what can be done to help young people into employment and training and towards a positive future.”

Heather Johnston, a Job Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust Scotland, was one of the young people who met the MP. She said: “I was unemployed for five years – it is demoralising and can impact heavily on self-esteem. As a Job Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust, it is important we get as much support to ensure young people, like me, get an opportunity to achieve a positive future.”

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