The Prince’s Trust gives young people, between the age of 14-30, the self-confidence, motivation and resilience to overcome difficult circumstances. This is done through a variety of programmes across the UK that develop skills and offer a range of opportunities, including training, personal development, grants, business start up support, mentoring and advice to help them to acquire skills, achieve economic independence and employment.

In the 25 years, since HRH The Prince of Wales started the Trust we've helped over 400,000 young people and as the issues change, so do our solutions.

Programmes are targeted at young people who have fewer opportunities than others, such as those who are unemployed, those in and leaving care, educational underachievers, ex offenders, those at risk of offending and serving prisoners.

Personal Development
The Prince’s Trust Volunteers programme enables 16-25 year olds to develop their confidence, motivation and skills through a 12-week course. The programme includes work experience and help with your CV, careers advice and job opportunities, new qualifications, challenging projects, an action-packed team building week away, the chance to make a difference to your community and much more.

The Volunteers programme often provides just what a young person needs to move forward with their lives, indeed 2 out of 3 unemployed participants find work or go on to further education or training afterwards.  Of those employers whose staff go on the course, 90% report improvements in the skills and attitudes of staff on their return to work.

Xl Programme
xl is The Prince's Trust's unique initiative run in schools for  Year 10 and 11 pupils, who are disaffected or at risk of exclusion. The programme aims to raise self-esteem, improve motivation, enable achievement and help develop essential skills for life and work.  It has been running since 1998 and there are now over 300 clubs across the UK.

xl encourages pupils’ re-integration into school through 'xl clubs' which draw together young people and enable them to create their own environment outside the normal class room, but within the school and under the guidance of a trained xl Adviser.

The xl club follows a curriculum with subjects ranging from citizenship, to teamwork, through to entrepreneurship.   Members participate in a variety of workshops, debates, residentials, fundraising and community activities.  Xl club members are given structured careers advice and are offered work experience opportunities.   

Business Start-ups
The Business programme offers grants and low interest loans of up to £5,000 to enable 18-30 year olds to start their own businesses. All those supported by The Trust are unemployed or under-employed and have been refused funding by other sources.

Since the programme started in 1983, nearly 50,000 people have been supported.  The top 50 Prince’s Trust businesses turn over almost £150 million and employ around 1,700 people. The Business programme is so successful that 60% of the businesses are still trading into their third year - a far higher figures than those start-ups by banks. 

The Trust provides each business with a Business Mentor as well as other ongoing support.

Music, sport and fashion
There are a wide number of opportunities for young people being offered by The Prince’s Trust and The Trust has identified three key areas; music, sport and fashion which young people are passionate about.  Sound Live is a Prince’s Trust residential course, which uses music to build self-confidence and a sense of achievement.  The FA Premier League supports many young people who participate in The Trust’s Volunteers programme and The Prince’s Trust Graduate Fashion Week is one of a number of initiatives to develop young people’s skills within fashion.