The Prince’s Trust has received £1,600,000 in Google.org funding to support over 4,500 unemployed and underemployed young people across the UK. The programme will provide participants with the personal and digital skills to help them achieve the confidence they need to live, learn and earn. The grant will also enable The Prince’s Trust to create new engaging digital content for its online learning platform, which will incorporate materials from Google’s free digital skills training initiative, the Google Digital Garage.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands launched the project this morning alongside Nick Stace, UK Chief Executive, The Prince’s Trust and Ronan Harris, Managing Director for Google UK & Ireland. The grant will support young people ages 16-30 and across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Over the next two years with the support of Google.org, The Prince’s Trust will pilot new ways of developing specific technology skills in young people to prepare them for future career opportunities. Google firmly believes everyone should be able to benefit from the opportunities that technology brings. Initiatives just like this one make it possible to give people the skills they need to grow their confidence, career or business.

Andy Street said: “It’s so important for young people to possess the skills they need to shape their future. It is wonderful to see The Prince’s Trust and Google.org working together on such an invaluable programme opening up opportunities for people across the UK in an increasingly digital world.”