Prince’s Trust – Celebrate Success Awards

Official website | View awards gallery

Listen to the interviews

JUSTIN WILKES & TOM BAXTER - Listen (Windows Media)

JUSTIN WILKES WITH ALISON MIHAIL - VOLUNTEER OF THE YR - Listen (Windows Media)

JUSTIN WILKES WITH KATE & JULIE FROM NEWCASTLE UTD - Listen (Windows Media)

JUSTIN WILKES WITH VALENTINES SCHOOL - Listen (Windows Media)

PRINCES TRUST - CHARLIE COX (STARDUST) - Listen (Windows Media)

PRINCES TRUST - DAMIEN LEWIS (BAND OF BROTHERS) - Listen (Windows Media)

PRINCES TRUST - LEE MEADS - Listen (Windows Media)

A host of A-list stars from stage and screen joined HRH The Prince of Wales at The Prince's Trust & RBS Celebrate Success Awards.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, Charlie Cox and Richard E Grant are just some of the A-listers attending the event, in honour of young people who have succeeded against the odds.

When the going gets tough...

The young people being awarded during the ceremony have come through difficult times - some having struggled with drug addictions, others with mental health problems, others having faced longterm unemployment.

They have now all achieved something outstanding with the help of The Prince's Trust - from setting up their own businesses to helping other young people facing similar difficulties to their own.

The awards are part of a £5m partnership between The Trust and The Royal Bank of Scotland, to help unemployed young people into work, training and education.

The stars presenting the awards include Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, Richard E Grant, Damian Lewis, Tallulah Riley, Charlie Cox and Leonard Roberts of Heroes fame.

Get Started Factsheet

The Get Started programme is free, and runs for 3 days a week over 4 weeks. It is designed for young refugees who have some idea of the kind of business they would like to start but need help to gain some basic business knowledge and advice in order to make their ideas a reality.

The course meets the requirements for the ASET, Enterprise Skills for Business Level 2 Award and covers business topics including: Marketing, Branding, Business Planning, Market Research, Cash Flow and Finances, Legal Issues, Product Design and Product Production. In keeping with all Prince’s Trust programmes the training takes an informal approach using teamwork and group exercises to ensure that young people are supported and able to participate fully. Participants will be supported throughout the course to compile individual portfolios to evidence their work for ASET accreditation On completion of the course participants may choose to access the Prince’s Trust Business Programme, receive a start-up business loan and business mentoring for up to three years. Alternatively Prince’s Trust staff are available to work with young people for a further 6 months to support them into employment, education or training.

Who

We are targeting refugees aged 18-30 and from the following target groups:

• Unemployed
• Educational underachievers
• Those in or leaving the care system
• Offenders and ex-offenders

When

Taster Days - 5th & 7th February 08 @ 2:00 - 4:30pm Get Started Course - 12th February – 6th March 08 @ 10:30 - 4:30pm

Where

International Students House, 229 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN

All travel costs will be reimbursed, lunch is provided and funding for childcare is available on a discretionary basis.

My name's Redskin and I'm an urban artist and part of the E=MC2 (squared) group.

We're putting on a one day music event on the 29th of August supported by The Prince's Trust and Kiss. On the day I will be compering the showcase as well as performing myself. I make hiphop, grime and RnB. My speciality? Music. Good music. I make music that's natural to me, stuff I've taken from the different sounds I heard growing up and different inspiring artists I've encountered along the way.

My top five inspirations would have to be Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman, Talib Kweli, Cat Stevens and, well, myself. Tambourine Man's my favourite song, my dad used to sing it to me when I was a kid.

I was born in 1983 in Hammersmith Hospital. My mum was a crack addict, my dad raised me as a single parent and I had a lot of problems when I was growing up and a lot of rejection and anger problems and I was expelled from lots of schools. But, you know, I've found my ground, I've found my angle and what I feel comfortable and happy doing. I feel good and positive about what I'm doing and I don’t really look into the past. You can't change that, you can only rewrite the future.

I've been in love for 23 years: with myself. Swear down and that's the truth. That's the only way you're going to get where you want to go and do what you want. I love myself. I love what I do. I'm doing the right things. It's a good look!

I only got into music in my teens. I was always into English. I used to write great poetry and won lots of competitions - some national ones too - when I was at school. I was always a bit of a tearaway, but English was my one thing I was always good at. So I was into writing and literature and then I got into rapping and lyrics and then I got into the production side of things and then it gripped me more and more! I don't like stuff I wrote six months ago – that's the truth. I feel like I'm improving and writing stuff that's better every time I pick up the pen.

My first album's called 'A Walk in the Park'. It's what life is to me, innit? Easy like a walk in the park. It's coming out soon around September, just after Noah Francis releases his first single. My management used to have a music shop out in Notting Hill and Noah used to come in and listen to stuff and he got into my music and we're making music together now. So I'm featuring on his single and he's on mine. He's just done a second single with the Wu Tang Clan - it's going to be big. I think everyone could get into my album. It's going to be the crossover album of the year! I've done a couple of grime tracks, but it’s more melodic. I did a lot of work with acoustic and session musicians. There's an indie feel to it. I don't want it to just conform to one genre of music; that's not what I'm about.

Apart from that. I got a big event called E=MC2 happening with my friend Tanya Ngoe. It's gone be great and it's on August 29th at Hoxton Hall. It’s basically a music-based day of education for young people, sponsored by the Princes Trust, Kiss FM, Dazed Digital, Centrepoint and LG's Finest, my management company. We've got a lot of famous artists coming down - I'm not going to namedrop too much...Groove Armada, Mick Jones, Noah, me!

My advice to kids who want to do what I did is work hard! Don't always look from A to B have a look what's going on A to C. If you're in a hostel, find out who they use to do their publicity and see if you can get on that, if you can get work experience, anything! Everything around you, you can turn it into something else.

Listen to Logan Sama's show on the 20th of Monday from 11pm for the chance to win one of 10 free tickets to attend our music event.

PRINCES TRUST

We're making our Princes Trust grant work for the people around us. Like, literally around us! As Centrepoint housing residents, we noticed that a lot of our neighbours weren't going to college or work, but were in their rooms, putting time and energy into putting down beats and rhymes.

And thats all good! But we wanted to help them out with the next step - getting their music careers started.

So E=MC2 (small 2!) is going to give some gifted young people the inspiration and the tools to get their music dreams off the ground.

On August 29th, sixty young music industry-inclined Centrepoint residents (and FIFTEEN lucky Kiss competition winners - watch this space!) will come to Hoxton Hall and get a full day's worth of:

- Q&As and workshops with up 'n coming and established urban artists, punk legends the Clash's Mick Jones, Kiss 100 DJs including Logan Sama and Breakfast show producer Adam K, A&Rs from major and independent record labels and sound engineers

- Live performances from grime, R&B and hiphop acts, including our very own Jason aka Redskin www.myspace.com/redskinuk with more artists to be confirmed in the coming weeks

- A basement full of top-of-the-range instruments, hi-tech sampling and recording equipment, as well as pro session musicians and producers to help them use it (so people can walk away with a rough track on CD if they want!)

- Free food and education stalls (so our fifty VIPs can chow down while find out about free short and long music courses at their local colleges)

and:

- Goodie bags! Stuffed with CDs, merchandise, college packs, music mags and more

So, if you're not a Centrepoint resident, but you don't want to get left out - make sure you watch this space and listen to Kiss 100's own Logan Sama over the next few weeks for details on the awesome competition we're holding. Fifteen places are up for grabs!

Catch you here soon!
Tanya and Jason
E=MC2 events team
Press contact: Lucy Stehlik [lucystehlik@googlemail.com]

PRINCES TRUST

Hey People,

My name is Atangana 'Tanya' Ngoe and I'm part of the E=MC2 (squared) events team.

I've been living in Centrepoint housing since I was 19. I wouldn't say I've had a hard life but I've had to make some tough decisions that have led me to where I am now. I've met loads of different and interesting people along the way and think that I am living proof that you can take a negative situation and turn it into a positive one.

Last year Centrepoint held the CentrepointWide event. Myself and Jason (aka Redskin) got involved and organised a talent show which Jason compered. Even though it was stressful at times and we only had a few weeks, I loved it. It was after this that the Prince's Trust's Big Boost fund was brought to our attention. We put together a proposal to host a one day music event and in January of this year we received funding.

Up until now we've had a lot of meetings but the ball has started to roll and is picking up pace. Lucy has joined us and is taking on all of our press including this community blog. You can look forward to interviews, podcasts and more exciting stuff from her.

I'm really excited about the event and know that it's going to be something great.

Look out for more updates from all of us on the E=MC2 (squared) events team.

Tanya x

Shoot A Ball Not A Gun

This years 2007 SHOOT A BALL NOT A GUN ALL (SBNG) STAR WEEKEND is going to an unmissable event. This event is put on to help spread awareness about the effects of knife and gun related youth crimes in our local communities and the effect that they have on our everyday life.

The event this year will feature the top 48 basketball players in the UK battling it out for the SBNG all star title. The event will also showcase some of the UK's top musical talents with performances from DE-A-CO, N DUBZ, G-RANGE and MEGANE to name but a few.

Not forgetting our annual 3point shoot out and amazing high flying dunk contest. We have also added this year an all star celebrity game featuring players from hollyoaks, so solid and choong fam just to name a few, with all this going on in one building this is going to an event not to be missed.

For more info visit: www.shootaballnotagun.co.uk/

The Project...Dare 2 Be Different...Episode 2

Hey Guys,

It's the project girls here,

Just stopping by to give you a little update on everything concerning our talent/fashion showcase that’s funded by The Princes Trust.

To describe how the show is going...we would have to say...GREAT!!!

We jus confirmed Kiss DJ Shortee Blitz to do a set as well as confirming other guest performers on the night...but you got to buy a ticket to find out who they are...nudge nudge, wink wink.

We also got loads more people involved in the show so we're having lots of fun. We're glad were spending our time doing something we enjoy as well as spreading a positive message at the same time.

But you know what they say...the more, the merrier!!! It’s not too late for you to get involved. There are jobs for every one in our street team. So contact us and be a part of the beginning of a positive start!!

Yours Truly

The Project Girls...x

The Project...Dare 2 Be Different...Episode 1

We are a group of like minded individuals, who have come together to produce a series of showcases highlighting today's urban youth culture in a positive light.

Currently we are in the process of organising an anti-knife and gun crime showcase. From this event we hope to raise awareness on this issue.

Thanks to the help of Kiss 100, we are able to ask you, the listeners, to be a part of our event.

Currently we are looking for volunteers, aged 18 and over, to be photographers and cameramen/women. Your own equipment is required.

**THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES

This event is due to held on the 12th of April 2007 at Shoreditch Town Hall for more information on this showcase and how to get involved, please email us at: theproject07@hotmail.com leaving your contact details, and we will be sure to get back to you.

Thanks in advance.

"The Project...Dare 2 Be Different."