Charles Tyrwhitt and The Prince’s Trust: A Partnership of Confidence
A letter from Nick
After completing his Royal Navy duty in 1976, HM King Charles III formed The Prince’s Trust – a charity dedicated to improving the lives of young people in the UK by helping them to build their confidence, skills, and employment prospects. The then Prince of Wales used his severance pay – £7,400 – to fund a series of 21 initiatives, and The Trust was born. In September 2020, 44 years later, The Trust passed the significant milestone of helping its one millionth young person in the UK.I am super proud of the £450,000 Charles Tyrwhitt has raised for The Trust since beginning our partnership in 2017 and it’s a great honour to serve as Chairman of The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Fellowship. I’ve still not recovered from my bicycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats in September 2017, raising money for this remarkable charity. We’re prouder than ever to support His Majesty’s charity and the young people it has supported over the years. God save The King. Nick Wheeler OBE Owner and FounderCharles Tyrwhitt
PUTTING THE FUN BACK INTO FUNDRAISING
From baking to biking, running to hiking, our fundraising has involved hundreds of Tyrwhitteers and their friends and family. Since our relationship began in 2017, we’re proud to have raised over £500,000 for this amazing charity Raising money for The Trust is our main aim, but the camaraderie, health and wellbeing benefits that we get from taking part in these fundraising challenges are just as important to us! The biggest event we partake in every year has to be Palace to Palace - The Trust's annual charity bike ride starting at Buckingham Palace, ending in Windsor. Over the years over 200 Tyrwhitteers have tackled the course, including our owner and founder, Nick Wheeler, who likes to put us through our paces!
EXPERIENCING THE WORLD OF WORK
At least twice a year, we welcome young people into Tyrwhitt places of work as part of The Prince’s Trust's 'Team Programme'.
These experience days are designed to help young people at risk of leaving education with no qualifications. When we tell our guests not all of us at Tyrwhitt took the academic route to get where we are today, we hope this inspires confidence that traditional paths aren't the only way to success.
We talk CVs, interview skills and how to make a good first impression, and we throw a little roleplay into the mix. We show the young people around our stores, and they get the chance to meet our owner and founder Nick, to ask any questions they might have for him!
We always receive really positive feedback about our WOW tours and often have the same schools request to come back each year! Our success is down to our people who are always willing to give up their time and the benefit of their experience to help others.
DRESSED TO IMPRESS
We also support young people when we donate our fabulous products. We really believe a great outfit is a great boost of confidence - whether that's for a special occasion or a formal event.
Most recently, a young person supported by The Prince’s Trust was invited to the coronation of HM King Charles III. We were thrilled that Hassan let us dress him - and we think you'll agree he looks very dapper next to Prince’s Trust ambassadors, Ant and Dec!
When Hassan, aged 24, was forced to flee his home in Syria due to the war, he and his family were given refugee status and rehomed in Ireland in 2017. Since then, he's transformed his life with support from The Trust. He now studies engineering at university and is helping vulnerable people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, so that they in turn can have the opportunity to live a better life.
ABOUT THE PRINCE’S TRUST
Youth charity The Prince’s Trust helps young people to develop the confidence and skills they need to realise their ambitions, so that they can live, learn and earn. Founded by The Prince of Wales in 1976, the charity supports 11 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed, struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.
Many of the young people helped by The Trust are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law.
The programmes offered by the charity give vulnerable young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.
The Trust has helped over 950,000 young people to date and supports over 100 more each day.
Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.