London’s disadvantaged young people will get a new start thanks to an innovative Arts’ based programme launched today with leading private bank Coutts & Co and The Prince’s Trust.

Coutts’ involvement comes in the form of £100,000 sponsorship, much of which will fund a packet of three Prince's Trust programmes using film, drama and dance to engage London’s disadvantaged 16-25 year olds and help them get their lives back on track. Film, Drama and Dance Live are one-week long personal development programmes, pilots of which are currently running in London. The programmes will help to develop confidence, motivation and employable skills through teamwork.

Rachel Oliver, Head of New Programmes for The Prince's Trust – London, said "Coutts sponsorship allows The Prince's Trust to deliver Film, Drama and Dance Live programmes designed to give back confidence that many young people may have lost due to difficulties they have faced in their lives. Whether crime, exclusion from school, growing up in care or unemployment has hindered their lives, 'Live' can be a catalyst for another chance to succeed and we are grateful to Coutts for their support of these programmes"

Paul Richardson, Deputy Head of Private Banking – Coutts & Co, said: "Coutts are proud to be supporting The Prince's Trust, providing funding for these exciting and innovative 'Live' programmes. Our support represents the third year of a sponsorship of The Trust, an association that over time has funded the charity's London Regional Director post and included elements of employee involvement. I for one am really looking forward to meeting some of the young people on the programmes and hearing how Coutts support of 'Live' will help them get their lives back on track"

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The 'Live' courses have been designed on the successful model of 'Sound Live', a course that has been running for eight years at The Prince's Trust using music as a central theme to aid recruitment and retention of young people. All 'Live' courses use the creative arts to inspire young people to have confidence in their skills, particularly those invisible to academic routes, otherwise remaining untapped.

Following their participation on a 'Live' course The Prince's Trust will mentor the young people for six months to help them use the skills they have realised to help them get their lives back on track. Typically this would be through employment, further training or even setting up their own businesses.

'Film Live' will be the first team project funded by Coutts and will take place between 23 – 28 August. Drama Live will follow in December 2004 and Dance Live in February 2005. Three-quarters of Coutts £100,000 annual sponsorship of the Prince's Trust will go towards the ‘Live' projects; and the remaining £25,000 towards staging a major fundraising event to be hosted for The Prince's Trust being held at Bank of England later this year.

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Rachel Faulkner a Coutts & Co

T: 020 7957 2427 email rachel.faulkner@coutts.com

Rob Cope at The Prince's Trust

T: 020 7543 7401 email: rob.cope@princes-trust.org.uk

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1. The Prince’s Trust exists to help young people to overcome their barriers and get their lives working. Through practical support including training, mentoring and financial assistance, it helps 14-30 year-olds to realise their potential and transform their lives. The Trust focuses its efforts on young people who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. Since the charity was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1976, it has helped nearly half a million young people. For more information on The Prince's Trust go to www.princes-trust.org.uk or call 0800 842 842.

1. Coutts has supported The Prince's Trust since 2001. This was previously realised by the funding of the post of The Prince's Trust London Director from 2001 - 2003 and a series of fundraising dinners and lunches. Today's announcement serves as further a development of this association.
2. Coutts & Co is the UK private banking arm of the Coutts Group, an international private banking group owned by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is one of the world's largest banking groups.
3. The Coutts Group manages the wealth of 90,000 high net worth clients worldwide through a network of 50 offices globally.
4. The first Coutts regional office to be opened was Eton in 1961. The most recent new opening was Liverpool, late last year. Today, Coutts has regional offices in Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Eton, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Tunbridge Wells & Winchester.
5. Coutts offers clients a range of products and services covering sophisticated investment products together with expertise in trust and fiduciary services and UK tax and banking services.
6. The Coutts Group has for the second year in a row been awarded ‘Best Use of Long-Only Multi-Manager Structures’ at the Private Asset Management Awards 2004
7. Coutts & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered in England No. 36695. Registered office: 440 Strand, London, WC2R 0QS