“The Prince’s Trust Awards inspire young people to overcome challenges and achieve success”

Mel C says she is proud to say she has been a longtime ambassador for The Prince’s Trust and continues to be inspired by the young people she has met along the way

It has been 25 years since I first met His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and had the pleasure of performing at The Prince’s Trust Gala. And over those 25 years, The Trust and its cause have held a high place in my heart.

Through a range of programmes, The Prince’s Trust helps young people gain access to jobs, education and training, and equips them with vital and employable skills to get their lives on track and reach their full potential. I am proud to say that I am a longtime ambassador for The Trust and continue to be inspired by the young people I have met along the way.

Life has been particularly tumultuous and destabilizing for young people as a result of the pandemic and the Trust’s work has never been more important than now. It was an honor to attend and present at The Prince’s Trust and the TK Maxx and Homesense Awards yesterday and to celebrate the lives of some incredible young people who have overcome challenges and achieved success through the support of The Trust.

One of the winners, Charlotte Wookey, who won the HSBC UK Breakthrough Award, struggled with mental health issues, but with the support of The Trust she changed her life, gained confidence and landed her dream job at a dog daycare. Winner of the Watches of Switzerland Group Young Change Maker Award, Emma-May Miller is a young caregiver to her parents. Emma-May faced severe mental health issues and with the help of The Trust she gained the confidence to complete her education, acquired employability skills through additional courses and is now on her way to pursuing her dream career in human rights at Stirling University.

There’s also Kayleigh Taylor, whose award I had the privilege of presenting for winning the NatWest Enterprise Award. Kayleigh is an extraordinary young woman who proved ADHD needn’t be a barrier to your dream career as, with help from The Trust, she established herself as a successful entrepreneur by opening her own healthy meal delivery service called ‘Klee’s Kitchen’. These are just a few of the extraordinary young people that The Prince’s Trust has supported and I am honored to have been able to celebrate with all of them.

It is truly amazing to see these young women thrive and set such a wonderful example for all the girls and women out there. I know firsthand the importance of strong female role models because without remarkable women in my life like my mom and the other Spice Girls, I could never have achieved all the wonderful things I’ve done.

This year’s Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx and Homesense Awards have recognized exceptional individuals who are truly an inspiration to us all. With the help of The Trust and their own initiative, they have overcome adversity and various challenges on their way to create a better future not only for themselves but also for the people around them. If you know someone who is struggling, someone who needs extra support to unlock their untapped potential, let them know about The Prince’s Trust – it could be what they need to get their life back on track.

The Prince’s Trust Awards 2022, Thursday 26 May at 8.30pm on ITV.