King launches new scheme to get young people into work with Sir Gareth Southgate
King Charlesâ Kingâs Trust has teamed up with former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate to launch a new project to support young people who are struggling to get a job
The King at Buckingham Palace today with Sir Gareth Southgate(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
The King has teamed up with Sir Gareth Southgate to launch a new initiative by his Kingâs Trust to help young people back into work.
The new national initiative will see 18 to 30-year-olds supported into employment through mentoring schemes, online resources and work experience opportunities from 2027. Charles and the former England manager launched the scheme today as they met 20 young people who have already been supported into work by the Kingâs Trust.
Among them was Trishna Lamichhane, 28, who said she was âreally gratefulâ to Charles after she received work experience through his charityâs retail programme, with the King telling her he was âreally proudâ of her overcoming her struggles.
The pair met those helped by the King’s Trust(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking at the Youth Opportunity Summit about moving to Belfast from Nepal, she said: âI had my experience, however I was finding it really difficult to get interviewed, which is why I started losing my confidence.
âI had moved from a different country, and I was finding it very difficult to navigate the workplace culture here. The Kingâs Trust helped me, and I am now in a position where Iâm proud of myself because Iâm actually doing something I really love.â
Ms Lamichhane said Charles was âreally happy to hearâ she is now helping other young people step into careers in her HR role at Marks & Spencer, and said he is âreally proudâ of her.
It comes days after a report revealed more than a million young people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training. Sir Gareth, a Kingâs Trust charity ambassador, said: âWhat I see is so much talent that isnât being fulfilled that maybe just needs support at the right moment to gain belief in what theyâre doing.
The King with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy (Image: Andrew Matthews/POOL PA via AP)
âThe beauty of sport is that you always have a coach, somebody to guide you in those moments where you lose belief⊠I definitely had that with my youth coaches at Crystal Palace, without whom I wouldnât have made the steps through to being a player.â
Prior to Charlesâs arrival, young guests received advice and guidance in one-to-one sessions with leaders in business, sport, civil society and the media, including Sir Gareth.
He added: âIâve heard that story so many times this morning from youngsters in real diverse, different 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 doesnât have to be super-complicated, but itâs really, really powerful.â
The King with those at the Youth Opportunity Summit(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Earlier in the visit, Charles greeted Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy warmly in the Marble Hall, sharing a joke with the pair.
The Cabinet ministers were joined by famous figures, including actor Benedict Cumberbatch, comedian Tom Davis and broadcaster Sonali Shah, all of whom took part in the mentoring sessions as part of the summit.
Charles posed for a photo with attendees including mentees, mentors, youth group leaders and business executives on the steps of the Grand Hall.
He met with young people at two previous Youth Opportunity Summits at St Jamesâs Palace in 2024 and 2025, where he discussed the impact of youth violence and the power of creative industries to inspire.
The Trust says it has helped more than 1.3 million young people across the UK in the past 50 years as part of its commitment to ending youth unemployment and helping more young people create better futures for themselves.
