King Charles has joined forces with former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate to launch a new initiative aimed at helping young people into employment. The scheme, run by the King's Trust, will provide mentoring, online resources, and work experience opportunities for 18 to 30-year-olds from 2027.
The launch took place at Buckingham Palace during a Youth Opportunity Summit, where the King and Sir Gareth met 20 young people who have already benefited from the Trust's support. Among them was Trishna Lamichhane, 28, who moved from Nepal to Belfast and struggled to find work. After receiving help through the Trust's retail programme, she now works in HR at Marks & Spencer. The King told her he was 'really proud' of her achievements.
Sir Gareth, a King's Trust ambassador, highlighted the importance of guidance, comparing it to coaching in sport. 'What I see is so much talent that isn't being fulfilled,' he said. 'The beauty of sport is that you always have a coach, somebody to guide you.' He noted that many young people he met simply needed someone to believe in them.
The summit also featured mentoring sessions with figures including actor Benedict Cumberbatch, comedian Tom Davis, and broadcaster Sonali Shah. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy were also in attendance. The King posed for a group photo on the steps of the Grand Hall.
The King's Trust says it has helped over 1.3 million young people in the past 50 years. The launch comes after a report revealed that more than one million 16-to-24-year-olds in the UK are not in education, employment, or training.
