But with philanthropic giving, one must never lose sight of the fact that giving money and helping people should be a pleasure. If it stops being that then you have to rethink what you are doing.
I am lucky enough to be able to give away millions but a number of years ago I got to the point when philanthropic giving ceased being a pleasure as its demands became too great. It started to encroach on my day job because I was spending so much time looking deeply into charities, their administration costs and needs.
To revitalise my interest and minimise the time constraint I decided to give to charities I really love – those where I feel I can make a real difference. For me, my favourite charity is The Prince’s Trust. I’m extremely passionate about supporting young people who have not had the best start in life.
My own childhood made me believe all young people can make a success of their lives, no matter what background they have. Like many young people supported by The Prince’s Trust, I grew up on a council estate and left school at 15 with no qualifications. My family and I struggled to make ends meet, so I wish I’d had support from The Prince’s Trust back
then. It was tough but against the odds I managed to find my first job. I set up my own business at 35 and haven’t looked back since. This personal experience drives me to help other disadvantaged young people get their lives back on track.
I am also extremely passionate about helping these vulnerable young people for the sake of Britain’s future economy. A staggering one in five young people are now struggling to find a job - we must not let the recession wipe out young talent. Young people bring so much to our communities – ideas, creativity, and energy – so letting them fall by the wayside would be a disaster for the future.
Likewise, Britain simply can’t afford to do nothing about this issue. Youth unemployment is already costing a huge £10 million a day in lost productivity, while youth crime costs £1 billion every year. And the impact on unemployed young people – who all too often face a downward spiral towards a loss of self-confidence – is immeasurable. I’m proud to support The Prince’s Trust, as it gives these young people the skills and confidence to reach their potential.
The Trust has helped more than 74,000 young people set up in business since 1983, which is incredibly inspiring to me. Many of them set up small firms in poor areas, creating jobs where there were none. Their hard work generates huge tax revenues for this country and is vital to fuel Britain’s economic recovery.
Take Steve Godwin from South London.
Like me, he ended up leaving school with few qualifications. He became heavily involved in drugs, taking a well-trodden path towards underachievement and long-term unemployment.
Steve didn’t know which way to turn.
But then he approached The Prince’s Trust and things began to look up. With help
from The Trust, he managed to set up his own business helping other young people who are struggling at school. After starting life as a small leafleting company, Steve’s business – What’s Up Information – is now helping other young people across London.
I was lucky enough to spend time mentoring Steve through The Prince’s Trust – and I’m proud of the success he has made of himself. It was incredibly powerful and fulfilling for me to share my experiences with Steve – and hopefully make a difference to his life. And it is not just that young man who is indebted to The Prince’s Trust; I too feel indebted to them for giving me that opportunity.
I never intended to become a philanthropist – you don’t wake up one morning and have a flash of inspiration about donating to charity. It took me by surprise. Suddenly I realised how pleasurable it is. It becomes intoxicating – you give a little away, become more involved and see the things you can change and the lives you can improve. You can make a world of difference and it’s wonderful.
In fact, the rewards of philanthropic giving are stunning. For example, for every 1% I put into my work with The Prince’s Trust I get 100% in terms of the people I’ve met and the doors it has opened for my business. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve actually made more business contacts through philanthropy than my day job.
Without a doubt philanthropy has added a new dimension to my life, making me personally happier and giving me greater balance. I take huge inspiration from HRH The Prince of Wales, because he established The Prince’s Trust which has helped more than 600,000 young people become active members of society. I couldn’t be more grateful to him and The Trust for changing my life for the better.
For more information on how you can get involved with the work of The Prince’s Trust, please contact Christoph Courth - christoph.courth@princes-trust.org.uk
