People from across the West Midlands who have turned their lives around with the help of the Prince's Trust are being urged to come forward to tell their stories as part of the youth charity's 30th anniversary celebrations.
The Prince's Trust has helped more than half a million disadvantaged young people into education, training or employment since it was launched in 1976 by the Prince of Wales and is searching for anyone in the West Midlands who has benefited from its support.
Charlotte and Ben Hollins, from Market Drayton in Shropshire, turned to the Prince's Trust after the farm that had been in their family since the 1900s fell into disrepair when their father, a pioneer in organic farming, died in 2004.
The family was faced with eviction from landlords who wanted to sell the land for industrial development. Charlotte and Ben, who were 21 and 19 at the time, appealed against the planning authority and managed to negotiate a new two-year lease before approaching the Prince's Trust.
They were awarded a £2,000 loan to buy livestock and revive the farm.
The business is now running successfully and Charlotte and Ben are trying to raise £800,000 so they can buy the farm and operate it as a Community Land Project when the lease runs out in September 2006.
For details about the charity's celebrations visit www.pt30.org.uk. To say how the charity has supported you contact Laura Taylor on 01384 892100 or email laura.taylorprincestrust.org.uk.
