The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Stars come out as Prince’s Trust celebrates success Arsenal legend joins celebrities in hailing work to support young people
Former Arsenal football star Thierry Henry has spoken in praise of the Prince’s Trust and its work in helping young people overcome “dark sides” which can blight lives.
Henry, a trustee of the charity founded by the Prince of Wales, spoke during a glittering awards ceremony celebrating those who have overcome abuse, bullying or a lack of self-belief to turn their lives around.
Trust supporters, including actors Gemma Arterton and Robert Lindsay, watched with Charles as the Celebrate Success awards – staged at the London Palladium and hosted by Ant and Dec – honoured outstanding individuals supported by the prince’s charity.
Henry presented the Young Ambassador of the Year award to Efaz Ahmed, who left school with no qualifications but went on to start a social enterprise initiative that uses sport to encourage community integration, after being helped by the trust.
The sports star told the guests he had been asked to become a trustee for the charity a year ago, adding: “Without any hesitation, I said yes.
“As a trustee you have to sit on the board and they started to talk about finance, and they might as well have talked to me in Chinese. It was very far out of my comfort zone.
“But then I realised what I was involved in. For me, one of the most important things that those young guys are doing, they are inspiring me in so many ways.
“With the help of the Prince’s Trust, they have been helped to live above their dark side. You never get rid of your dark side but you learn how to live above it and master it. So, for me, that has been an inspiration throughout the year.”