Prince's Trust Ambassadors are taking part in the Against The Odds youth forum this week, to give hope to young people facing issues such as poverty, homelessness and unemployment.
The Prince’s Trust youth forum, Against The Odds, is being streamed on The Trust’s Facebook page and website, to inspire young people battling recent rises in youth unemployment.
This comes at a time when more than a million young people across the UK are struggling to find work.
The Against The Odds panel will be hosted by Rickie & Melvin from KISS FM, and will consist of Alesha Dixon, Mark Ronson, Brooke Kinsella, Tinie Tempah, Lemar and SBTV entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, all of whom have overcome barriers to get where they are today.
During the event, viewers will have the chance to ask advice from the panel of Prince’s Trust Ambassadors, and the panel will hear from young people who have turned their lives around with help from The Trust.
Prince’s Trust ambassador and Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon says: "I feel extremely blessed to have a job that I love, but it hasn’t always been easy to get where I am today. At times I didn’t have the easiest of childhoods, but I still grew up believing I could achieve my dreams.
“As an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust, I’ve seen how the charity helps thousands of young people to achieve things they never thought possible.
“No matter how difficult things get, the most important thing we can say to young people now is not to give up hope – there is support out there to help you get where you want to be.”
Other ambassadors on the panel include DJ and producer Mark Ronson and actress Brooke Kinsella MBE, who set up a charity to campaign against knife crime following the tragic death of her brother in 2008. Young entrepreneur Jamal Edwards will also share his experience of setting up online youth broadcaster SBTV at just 15.
Martina Milburn, chief executive of The Prince’s Trust, said: "More than a million young people are unemployed and others are facing barriers such as poverty, homelessness and mental health problems. Sadly, many are giving up hope for the future.
“Against The Odds will inspire young people across the country to get the support they need to turn their lives around. Despite a difficult economic climate, three in four of the young people we help move into work, education or training.”
Against The Odds is supported by HSBC. It will be streamed live at 2pm on Wednesday 17th October at www.facebook.com/princestrust.
Source: Prince's Trust
