Claire Burgess: The Prince’s Trust

This was the first meeting for over a year where we could enjoy a sit-down meal together. We were pleased to be joined by our speaker, Claire Burgess of The Prince’s Trust (pictured) and friends from the Rotary Clubs of Chelmer Bridge and Chelmsford Phoenix.

There was one unexpected event at the meeting. President Peter presented Paul Harris Fellowships to Immediate Past President Jan Goodman and her husband, Past President Phil Goodman. (Jan presented PHFs to Eddie Cassels and Francis Whitbread at the Handover Meeting on 1 July in one of her last acts as President.)

Claire gave us a presentation on the work of The Prince›s Trust, which works with young people to help them with wellbeing, education and employment. It offers a number of courses designed to give young people the skills they need to find employment or start their own businesses.

After learning appropriate skills and forming a business idea, budding entrepreneurs are put in touch with appropriate volunteer mentors who have run their own successful businesses. They may also be able to apply for a loan to get them started.

The Trust has links with various organisations and companies offering employment opportunities to young people. Among other projects, over the next four years it aims to prepare 10,000 young people for work in the health and social care sector. Many of those will go on to work in the NHS.

The Trust encourages young people to “Get started - Get into - Get employed”. The vast majority succeed and those few who do struggle can rejoin the programme later if they wish.

Everyone who attended enjoyed this, our first dinner since the start of the Covid restrictions last year. It was a fitting start to our return to traditional meetings.