King Charles has hosted a youth summit at St James’s Palace today alongside actor and philanthropist Idris Elba, bringing together young people and youth organisations to address opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
The gathering marks exactly one year since the monarch convened initial discussions on youth violence and positive pathways for affected young people at the same venue in July 2024.
The event saw His Majesty and Elba, who founded the Elba Hope Foundation and is an alumnus of The King’s Trust, join a reception with participants from government, sports, education and arts sectors.
The summit aims to assess progress made over the past twelve months in tackling youth violence and creating opportunities for young people facing adversity across the UK.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attended the reception alongside Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
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King Charles has hosted a youth summit at St James’s Palace today alongside actor and philanthropist Idris Elba, bringing together young people and youth organisations to address opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
The ministers heard directly from young people and organisations about their experiences and solutions during earlier discussions at the palace.
Following the reception, a report-back session chaired by Ben Marson, Director at The King’s Trust, will examine concrete progress achieved since last year’s inaugural summit.
The discussion will provide a platform for participants to share successful initiatives, build new partnerships and present evidence-based approaches to youth empowerment.
The gathering represents a significant moment for cross-sector collaboration, bringing together government officials with grassroots organisations working directly with young people affected by violence and disadvantage.
The King’s Trust has launched its Creative Futures programme in partnership with the Elba Hope Foundation, designed to inspire young people through arts whilst building essential skills and confidence.
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The King’s Trust has launched its Creative Futures programme in partnership with the Elba Hope Foundation, designed to inspire young people through arts whilst building essential skills and confidence.
The Trust has also collaborated with the Youth Endowment Fund to better understand how their programmes can effectively reduce youth violence across communities.
Elba’s Don’t Stop Your Future campaign, which launched in 2024, continues to amplify voices from communities most affected by serious youth violence.
The anti-knife crime initiative, building on Elba’s years of private work with victims and families, has achieved significant momentum in its first year.
The campaign’s efforts, combined with outcomes from the July 2024 discussions, led to the creation of The Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, a cross-governmental body focused on developing sustainable solutions to youth violence.
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The King’s Trust, established by the then Prince of Wales in 1976, has supported over one million young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across nearly five decades of operation.
The King’s Trust, established by the then Prince of Wales in 1976, has supported over one million young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across nearly five decades of operation.
The charity focuses on helping those facing adversity to develop confidence and skills needed for employment and education, with three-quarters of participants over the past five years moving into work, education or training.
Elba’s connection to the Trust dates back to his teenage years when he received a £1,500 grant to attend the National Youth Music Theatre, launching his successful career in acting, music and filmmaking.
Now through the Elba Hope Foundation, which he runs with his wife Sabrina, the actor supports organisations working in agriculture, food security, environmental conservation and social justice across the UK, US and Africa, advancing opportunities for underserved communities.
