Bristol-based RSG, the UK’s largest independent recruitment group, has named The Prince’s Trust as it’s chosen charity partner.
The Prince’s Trust aims to support 60,000 new young people across the UK, helping give them the skills and confidence needed to get a job.
With five centres across the South, the aim is to reach more than 10,000 new young people in this region alone.
RSG had previously supported The Prince’s Trust South West by holding training and open days for 18-to-25 year olds at its Clifton headquarters.
These sessions created such positive feedback both within the business and among those who took part that RSG and the whole organisation is now geared up to support more young people in Bristol and across all 10 UK offices.
RSG director Adam Meadows said: “Our business is built on getting people into work, so at a grass roots level we understand the complexity and challenges people face when trying to find the right job.
“When the odds are also against you in terms of not having come through education with the right support or not had access to getting a first step on the jobs ladder, it can have a huge impact on people’s confidence, which creates a vicious cycle.
“The whole team at RSG are in a prime position to help break this cycle by providing advice and practical guidance to young people involved with The Prince’s Trust helping them take those first steps and evolve into the world of work.”
The Prince’s Trust senior head of regional private sector fundraising for the South and Wales, Laura Gammage, added: “Over the past 41 years The Prince’s Trust has helped 870,000 young people, and our ambitions over the next decade are to help even more.
“We are delighted that RSG has chosen us as their partner charity as we strive to support young people who have not had an easy time to get their lives back on track, and get into work, education or training.
“We look forward to developing the fundraising and volunteering programme with them over the coming months.”
Prince’s Trust Young ambassador Amy Rawbone has been one of the young people who is now in full-time work after taking part in a Prince’s Trust programme.
Amy, 21 and from Bristol, said: “It is just amazing that businesses like RSG help people out in this way – I don’t even know if they realise how much help they are actually giving.
“There was a time when I was so down I couldn’t get out of bed. I was thinking suicidal thoughts and was self-harming, I didn’t know what to do, I was lost and totally had no self-confidence.
“It was my mum and my nan who took me down to The Prince’s Trust and made me go on the Fairbridge programme. I was so nervous on the first day I cried. But with support from the Trust I learned coping mechanisms to manage my anxiety, developed the confidence to travel independently, and began socialising outside of the programme
“I’ve now been working at Marks & Spencer for two years and my life has completely turned around. I am so grateful to everyone who helped me and am proud to be a young ambassador. Together we can all make a real difference.”
RSG’s involvement with The Prince’s Trust is particularly strong in the South West, as last year CEO Mike Beesley became chair of its South West development committee – a group of business people committed to helping fundraise and grow the charity’s business network.
Pictured, from left. Top row: RSG head of marketing Michelle Smith; Laura Gammage of The Prince’s Trust, Sarah Pritchard, The Prince’s Trust outreach executive; Helen Davies, The Prince’s Trust head of business development, Wales. Bottom row: RSG director Adam Meadows; Jack Lewis, The Prince’s Trust head of corporate and events South West; The Prince’s Trust young ambassadors Nathan Coulter and Amy Rawbone
