HRH The Prince of Wales today launched Prince’s Trust International, the global extension of the UK’s leading youth charity.

The Prince joined Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, The President of Malta at a special reception at the Palace of the Grandmaster, Valletta during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Prince’s Trust International builds on the success of the UK charity which has supported 825,000 young people since it was founded in 1976. It provides consultancy, advice, training and access to programmes which support unemployed and vulnerable young people to succeed in education, employment and enterprise.

Alan Kennedy, chief executive of Prince’s Trust International said: “I’ve seen the difference The Prince’s Trust makes, supporting hundreds of thousands of young people into education and employment across the UK. Now we have the opportunity to develop the confidence and skills of young people in countries throughout the world. It’s an exciting opportunity to help tackle one of the defining issues of our time, youth unemployment, lifting young people out of poverty and despair.”

Prince’s Trust International has been developed in response to requests for advice and support from more than 20 governments and agencies across the world. The independent charity is being launched in Malta, where it has delivered two projects and works with The President’s Trust.
The President’s Trust of Malta is based on the model of The Prince’s Trust in the UK. Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, The President of Malta, established The President’s Trust after witnessing the work of The Prince’s Trust, supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the UK. A memorandum of understanding was signed between The Prince’s Trust, UK and the President’s Trust, Malta to enable the two charitable organisations to collaborate on projects.
HSBC Malta has invested in a programme in seven schools to support young people who are struggling in education and risk exclusion. The initiative is based on Prince’s Trust xl Clubs which operate in more than 400 UK schools, supporting almost 100,000 young people since 1999. (See separate press release.)

Marks & Spencer, one of the UK’s most active corporate partners of The Prince’s Trust, has completed its first employability programme on Malta, supporting a group of unemployed young people in its Valletta and Sliema stores. (See separate press release.)

Prince’s Trust International has also worked on projects in Jordan and Oman and is now focussing on developing new initiatives in the Commonwealth and Middle East.

Sir Nigel Knowles, Chairman of Prince’s Trust International said: “The projects undertaken to date have really demonstrated the great need for initiatives focusing on youth unemployment. Now we are reaching out to countries across the Commonwealth and beyond, as we believe our programmes can make a difference around the world.”