King Charles has partnered with former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate to launch a new initiative by his King's Trust, aimed at helping young people re-enter the workforce. The national program, set to begin in 2027, will support individuals aged 18 to 30 through mentoring schemes, online resources, and work experience opportunities.
Launch Event at Buckingham Palace
The King and Sir Gareth unveiled the initiative today at Buckingham Palace, where they met with 20 young people who have already benefited from the King's Trust's support. Among them was Trishna Lamichhane, 28, who shared her story of moving from Nepal to Belfast and struggling to find work. Through the Trust's retail programme, she gained work experience and now works in HR at Marks & Spencer. Charles told her he was "really proud" of her achievements.
Speaking at the Youth Opportunity Summit, Ms Lamichhane said: "I had my experience, however I was finding it really difficult to get interviewed, which is why I started losing my confidence. I had moved from a different country, and I was finding it very difficult to navigate the workplace culture here. The King's Trust helped me, and I am now in a position where I'm proud of myself because I'm actually doing something I really love."
Addressing Youth Unemployment
The launch comes days after a report revealed that over one million young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are not in education, employment, or training. Sir Gareth, a King's Trust ambassador, emphasised the importance of guidance, drawing parallels to sports coaching: "What I see is so much talent that isn't being fulfilled that maybe just needs support at the right moment to gain belief in what they're doing. The beauty of sport is that you always have a coach, somebody to guide you in those moments where you lose belief."
Prior to Charles's arrival, young guests participated in one-to-one sessions with leaders from business, sport, civil society, and media, including Sir Gareth. He added: "I've heard that story so many times this morning from youngsters in diverse career paths. It was all about someone who believed in them, somebody who could guide them, somebody they could just pick up the phone and check in with. It doesn't have to be super-complicated, but it's really, really powerful."
High-Profile Support
The summit also featured appearances by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, comedian Tom Davis, and broadcaster Sonali Shah, who participated in mentoring sessions. Charles greeted the Cabinet ministers warmly in the Marble Hall, sharing a joke with them.
The King posed for a group photo on the steps of the Grand Hall with attendees, including mentees, mentors, youth group leaders, and business executives. He had previously hosted Youth Opportunity Summits at St James's Palace in 2024 and 2025, where discussions focused on youth violence and the creative industries' potential.
King's Trust Legacy
The King's Trust, formerly known as The Prince's Trust, reports having helped over 1.3 million young people across the UK in the past 50 years. The organisation remains committed to ending youth unemployment and empowering young people to build better futures.
