Teenagers cut adrift by Covid, says Charles
THE Prince of Wales has warned that the lives of teenagers have been made “infinitely worse” by the “dreadful” pandemic which robbed them of essential social interaction.
The Prince said young people had been separated from their friends, “cut off from confidence-building challenges” and “denied the social experiences” previous generations took for granted as a result of Covid-19.
In a speech at the Prince’s Trust Awards, he called on Britain to now “believe in our young people so they can start believing in themselves” again.
The award show was held at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and will be broadcast on television for the first time, on ITV tomorrow night.
Opening his speech, the Prince joked he may become a “commercial break without realising” in the final cut.
“We are here today in the wake, of course, of a dreadful pandemic which has affected education, employment, families and childhoods,” he told guests including hosts Ant Mcpartlin and Declan Donnelly, Amal Clooney, Felicity Kendal, broadcaster Kate Garraway, Spice Girl Mel C and Bridgerton actors Phoebe Dynevor and Jonathan Bailey.
“We still do not know the extent of the disruption in the long term, but we do know that many are still experiencing isolation and loneliness, and that more young people across the world are growing up fearful of the future.
“Listening to young people, I know the journey from childhood to adulthood, from school to work, can be an anxious and turbulent time, even for those in the most fortunate of circumstances.
“But the pitfalls of this journey have been made infinitely worse for so many today – separated from their school friends, cut off from confidence-building challenges and denied the social experiences that we all took for granted.”