David Nicholls

Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle is further than you think...

On Sunday 5 October, I will be joining the CapGemini team to cycle from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle as part of the Palace to Palace cycle, raising funds for the King’s Trust. "That’s not far" I hear you cry! Never fear - whilst it’s ‘only’ 35km down the M4, the King’s Trust has made sure we’ll be suffering for the cause by sending us on a circuitous 145km trip through the Surrey Hills Landscape and included 1,363 metres of climbing to keep it interesting. Given my cycling has taken a back seat to sleeping off the demands a toddler in the last 18 months or, there’s definitely going to be some pain. If you can find a few £ to donate, I’ll be eternally grateful for giving me something I can focus on during the short, sharp 9% climb at about the 100km mark. If not, if you take as second to spread the word about the work the Kings Trust do, that would be amazing as well. More info about them below.

The King’s Trust believes that every young person should have the chance to succeed, no matter their background or the challenges they face. They help those from disadvantaged communities and those facing the greatest adversity by supporting them to build the confidence and skills to live, learn and earn.

The Trust offers courses to help young people aged 11-30 to develop essential life skills, get ready for work and access job opportunities. They support them to find work because having a job or running a business can lead to a more stable, fulfilling life. Since The Trust was founded in 1976, they have helped more than a million young people across the UK. Three in four of those supported over the last five years have moved into work, education or training. With almost 1 million young people not currently in work, education or training, this work has never been more important.

Here’s what donations could mean for young people:

£5 - covers the cost of a bus ticket for a young person to attend their first job interview, potentially unlocking an inspiring career.

£10 - could fund a helpline call; enabling a vulnerable young person gain critical advice.

£15 - could contribute towards  work in schools, equipping a classroom with the tools to help young people re-engage with learning.

£20 could provide a young person with an experienced youth worker for an hour, building their confidence, resilience and motivation, helping find their way into a career.

£55 could help The King's Trust provide a young person managing a struggling new business with expert mentoring.