It’s our duty to ensure young people today don’t lose hope

Screen star on Prince’s Trust’s life-changing work

SINCE Prince Charles set it up in 1976, the Prince’s Trust has helped people escaping crime, poverty, drugs and violence.

In the 20th year of The Prince’s Trust Award at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, the charity reveals it has helped its millionth person.

Here, Sir Ben Kingsley reveals why the Trust is more vital than ever, and talks about an inspiring youngster.

Below, three 2020 Pride of Britain nominees tell their stories.

Almost a year ago, when the world was a very different place, I was invited to present The Prince’s Trust Young Achiever Award to a young man called Hezron at The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.

This was a very proud moment for me, as I have been an Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust for many years.

I have seen how young people can overcome even the greatest of challenges when someone believes in them – which is exactly what The Prince’s Trust does for tens of thousands of young people every year.

Hezron’s story, as with many of the young people I have met through the Trust, is one of real accomplishment in the face of adversity.

After an early life of crime and homelessness, Hezron started using his story to help others facing similar challenges, steering them away from violence and gangs.

Each year, the Young Achiever Award recognises a young person who has not only overcome their own obstacles in life to achieve success, but someone who is now using that experience to help others. It takes an enormous amount of strength, courage and grit to do this – and yet we see these qualities time and time again in young people.

Just as it was an honour to present

Hezron with his award last year, it is today my absolute privilege to mark two important milestones for The Prince’s Trust.

Not only is it the 20th year of The Prince’s Trust Award at Pride of

TAKING PRIDE Sir Ben and Hezron at 2019 awards

Britain, but the charity has helped one million young people since HRH the Prince of Wales set it up in 1976.

It fills me with great pride to think about the lives changed by the charity over the decades.

But it also saddens me that, today, life has become, suddenly and tragically, so much more difficult for the young. A generation of young people are missing out on crucial opportunities, education and training.

Many are now entering a jobs market in turmoil and facing unemployment before they have even been given a chance.

When the Prince of Wales set up his youth charity in the 1970s, it was against a backdrop of riots and unemployment. The Trust was intended to support the most disadvantaged young people.

Today, youth joblessness is set to reach record highs, the mental health toll of the pandemic is hitting hard and young people are in need of support more than at any other time I can remember.

Young people are resilient, and as we have seen through Hezron’s story and the other award winners over the years, they often find their way through the toughest of challenges only to go even further to help others.

But what would have happened if someone had not believed in them at the right moment?

We can all think of turning points in our lives – when someone has helped us find our way through.

I believe it is the duty of all of us to ensure that young people today do not lose hope. Not only should we be concerned for their futures, but their successes will drive the recovery of our economy and society as a whole.

Today, we need the inspirational role models more than ever.

And we need the stories of success that bring back hope.