Marcus and Andrew Help The Team

Marcus and Andrew help The Prince’s Trust

Marcus Hahnemann and Andrew Surman showcased their artistic skills when they took part in a community project at Eastfield Community Centre, lead by The Prince’s Trust who Wolves Community Trust have supported since 1997.

The players joined members of ‘TEAM 101’ who are enrolled on The Prince’s Trust Team programme, a 12- week personal development course for 16-25 year olds, run by Wolverhampton College.

Andrew and Marcus were there to lend a hand with their community project, where the Team are challenged to make a positive difference to the community.

This visit forms part of the Premier League ‘Places for Players’ initiative, which showcases the work that the 20 clubs do in their local communities.

Andrew Surman, a Prince’s Trust Ambassador, said of the day: “This is the second time I’ve met the group and they seem to be doing really well with this project.

“A football club is the focal point of any city, and for players to help causes such as this one is really important.

“You hope that you can encourage and inspire people to change their lives and move on to finding careers.”

Youth charity, The Prince's Trust, helps change young lives and gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation.

It works with 14- to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.

The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped more than 600,000 young people since 1976 and supports over 100 more each working day.

More than three in four young people The Trust helped last year moved into work, education or training.

The Trust works with over 60 professional football clubs through a long-term partnership with the Premier League, Professional Footballers’ Association and the Football Foundation.

HRH The Prince of Wales launched the Football Initiative at Old Trafford in September 1997.

Wolves Community Trust supports both the ‘Football Initiative’ and Team Programme by providing such resources as a team base, stadium tours, educational workshops, activity sessions and work placements.

Will Clowes, Community Operations Manager, says of the relationship: “We are delighted to be supporting Prince’s Trust Team 101.

“Here at wolves we have been supporting The Prince’s Trust Football Initiative for over ten years which has involved providing stadium facilities, staff support, fundraising assistance and work placement opportunities.

“The Prince’s Trust programme offers support to over 40,000 young people nationally each year and we are proud to be involved with such a worthwhile cause.

“Having the support of the players through the Places for Players initiative helps highlight the fantastic work being carried out by Wolves Community Trust.”

Jamie Roberts, Prince’s Trust Fundraising Manager for Sport in the Midlands, added: “Sport is a key part of our strategy to engage and motivate young people and help them to develop key workplace skills such as confidence, teamwork, communication and discipline.

“From a Prince’s Trust point of view we use sport as a means of motivation and engaging young people and having the players involved today has had a really positive effect on them.

“Our partnership with Wolves Community Trust demonstrates our common goal to help the most disadvantaged young people in the Black Country to change their lives and the commitment of the players will help us to do that.”

For more information on The Prince’s Trust visit www.princes-trust.org.uk.