The King's Trust

Shaping an AI-enabled future for Wales Yesterday’s launch of our Gen(eration) AI report at the Pierhead sparked an inspiring conversation about technology, productivity, and growth and the role young people must play at the heart of that transformation. A huge thank you to our sponsor Samuel Kurtz MS ARAgS and to Jack Sargeant MS, Welsh Government Minister of Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, who reminded us we have a choice - to shape the direction of AI or be shaped by it. His call for "ethical and responsible AI that enables workers and strengthens communities" reflects why this agenda matters for young people. We were joined by an incredible panel: Holly Papworth from Public First Neil Aubin from Stable Trust-supported Maddy Benyon from Cornerstone Finance Collaboration between partners, employers, and government is key to ensuring the next generation has the skills, confidence, and opportunities to thrive. 👉 Explore the report and join the conversation on how we can build an AI-enabled Wales where every young person can succeed https://brnw.ch/21wYfoN #GenAI #FutureOfWork #CorporateImpact #YouthEmpowerment

🙌 Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Reed Educational Trust, every donation we received during the Big Give Christmas Challenge was doubled - meaning your support has gone twice as far in helping young people access education, training and employment. Together, we have raised £165,535, an outstanding achievement that will make a real and lasting difference in young people’s lives. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated, shared our campaign or supported us ❤️ As we recognise this achievement, we also like to take a moment to honour the memory of Sir Alec Reed, whose recent passing has deeply saddened us. Sir Alec Reed has been a longstanding supporter of our mission, and we want to express our sincere gratitude for the longstanding support he has shown to The King’s Trust. The Reed Educational Trust has been our supporter for almost 15 years and is also the champion funder for our Big Give Christmas Challenge which started this Giving Tuesday on the 2nd of December. The generosity of The Reed Foundation has made a meaningful difference, and we are truly appreciative of their support.

CH&CO have raised just under £35,000 at their Bond-style Gala to help empower young people and create brighter futures. CH&CO has been a long-standing partner since 2017, championing young people through countless inspiring initiatives, events, special moments, and opportunities just like this one. We were especially thrilled to be joined by Jessica Summer, one of our inspiring Young Ambassadors, who shared her incredible story of building Mouse & Grape and the journey that brought her there. Her honesty, bravery and entrepreneurial spirit lit up the room and showed exactly why the support of valued partners like CH&CO matters so much. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to such a magical celebration full of glamour, fun and generosity. To the entire CH&CO team: thank you. Your partnership truly changes lives and helps young people build the confidence and skills they need to thrive. Thank you for your continued belief in our mission and for the incredible energy you bring to supporting young people every step of the way. Here’s to many more inspiring moments together.

⏳ Only 24 hours left to double your donation! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported our Christmas Appeal so far – your generosity is truly changing lives. There’s still time to make an even bigger impact. Thanks to Reed Educational Trust Limited, every donation made before midday on 9 December will be matched via the Big Give, helping us reach even more young people who deserve the chance to thrive. Let’s finish strong and create brighter futures together 🙌 #BigGiveChristmasChallenge #DoubleYourImpact #TheKingsTrust

Just two days to go until our annual King’s Trust Carol Concert, in partnership with Cunard🕯️ We’re looking forward to welcoming guests to St Paul’s Knightsbridge for an evening of inspiring readings, beautiful music, and festive celebration.🎄 We're excited to reveal we have final performer announcements: ✨ Tiernàn Heffron - Our exceptional Young Ambassador, whose inspiring journey and performance will be a highlight of the evening. ✨ Desmonda Cathabel - Acclaimed actress and singer, currently starring as Eurydice in Hadestown (West End). Tiernàn and Desmonda will be performing alongside the incredible; Adrian Lester CBE, Dominic West, Dame Helen Mirren, Jamie Cullum, Karina Moore, Katie McAlister - President of Cunard, Penny Lancaster, Pierce Brosnan OBE, Sam Ryder, Sonali Shah, SPKB Choir and our host Charles Nove. 🎤 Couldn’t get a ticket? You can still experience the magic. Don't forget to tune in to Magic Classical on MagicFM at 7pm on Christmas Eve for the full broadcast. 📻 Huge thanks to our supporting partner American Airlinesi 💫

What do artisan dog treats, bespoke Costa Rica trips, board games, and ceramics have in common? They were all part of our London Christmas Marketplace and there was something for everyone! 🎄🎁 This special event wasn't just about festive shopping, it was about celebrating the creativity and talent of young entrepreneurs who launched their businesses through our Enterprise programme. As we head into the festive season (and beyond), remember to shop small and support local businesses - because every purchase makes a BIG difference. ✨    A huge thank you to Julia Rausing Trust for opening this event and continuing to champion young entrepreneurs in London, and to Aga Khan Foundation for welcoming us into their space to showcase this talented group of entrepreneurs.    Want to learn more about how we're helping young people turn their business ideas into reality? Click here: https://bit.ly/48QAMh9 📸 Photo 1 & 2: Fanny Beckman   #Enterprise #YoungEntrepreneurs #SmallBusinesses #YoungBusinessOwners #SupportSmallBusinesses

How does Amazon's Step Up Work Experience programme empower our young people? Jo Simovic is the Senior Programme Manager in Amazon’s Youth Programme Team, and last month she supported 5 young people from The King’s Trust for a week of hands-on, tailored work experience. The Step Up Work Experience programme helps young people gain the key skills they need to step into the workplace, by providing training in a professional and supportive environment. During this transformative week, our young people gained a fountain of knowledge from the inner workings of Amazon and produced their own AI app to support a social issue of their choice, all before presenting to a panel of Dragons. Through mentorship and tailored feedback, Amazon are empowering the next generation of young professionals at a pivotal moment in their development as they step into their early careers. Thank you to Jo and the rest of the team for making this meaningful opportunity possible and helping develop our young people to drive their ambition. #Amazon #workexperience #AI #youthemployment

We’re proud to welcome seven new Apprentice Content Creators to Reach, joining us through our ‘Get Into Journalism’ initiative in partnership with The King's Trust. Launched last year, the programme is designed to open doors for people from underrepresented backgrounds across the UK who are taking their first steps into journalism and digital media. After a series of taster mornings and paid placements in our regional newsrooms, they gained hands-on experience in digital storytelling, newsroom production and journalism essentials, supported by employability training from The King’s Trust. Following the placements, seven participants were offered 18-month paid apprenticeships - and all seven joined us last week. We’re delighted to welcome: Evelina Black (Liverpool), Erin Bridges (Liverpool), Morgan King (Liverpool), Ludwik Lipiec (Manchester), Georgia Cuthbertson (Newcastle), Ellie Rosemond (Newcastle) and Doug Hayward (Newcastle). As Apprentice Content Creators, they will contribute to written, video and multimedia content across our local brands, while developing skills in audience engagement, analytics and platform-specific storytelling. One of our new apprentices, 20-year-old Erin Bridges, said the programme “significantly boosted my confidence and skills” and credited both Reach and The King’s Trust for “helping me grow and adapt my mindset.” Dan Cording, Youth Development Lead at The King’s Trust, added: “By partnering with Reach, we’re giving young people the chance to recognise their strengths and reach their full potential.” David Higgerson, Reach’s Chief Content Officer, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome this new cohort and continue our work with The King’s Trust to open pathways for young people building careers in journalism.” #GetIntoJournalism #Journalism #RegionalJournalism #KingsTrust #ReachPLC #JournalismApprenticeships

What a night! ✨ At the 2025 King’s Trust Partnership Awards, proudly supported by CH&CO Ultimate Experience, we celebrated the incredible partnerships driving real change for young people. From creative campaigns to employee-led fundraising, our corporate partners continue to go above and beyond and we truly couldn’t be more proud 👏 #PartnershipAwards

Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, The King’s Trust reaffirms our commitment to creating a society where every young person can thrive. This year’s theme invites us to recognise that inclusion is more than awareness. It’s about taking action, improving accessibility, and learning from the lived experiences of disabled people. At The King’s Trust, we continue to: - Champion inclusive education, skills, and employment pathways - Remove barriers that prevent young people from accessing opportunities - Celebrate the talent, creativity, and leadership of young disabled people across the UK and beyond We are amazed by the resilience and innovation of the young people we support. Their achievements drive us to keep improving accessibility across our programmes and to ensure that every voice is heard. Inclusion is a shared responsibility, and at The Trust we take deliberate, proactive action to make sure people are not just considered but truly included - ensuring every young person has equitable opportunities to thrive. #InternationalDayOfPersonsWithDisabilities