Sir, On behalf of The Prince's Trust in Wales, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the fantastic achievements of our region after we took home a quarter of the awards available at The Prince's Trust and RBS Celebrate Success ceremony in London this week. The two winners from Wales received their award from HRH The Prince of Wales. Michaela Haines, 17, from Pembrokeshire won UK Educational Achiever of the Year 2008. Michaela, a carer for her mum and siblings, was placed in foster care and continued to truant and under- achieve. She attended the Trust's xl programme at Tasker Milward School, Haverfordwest. She has turned her life around so completely and is now at college and has won a host of educational awards. Sandra Davis, who works for Lifelong Learning Services at Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, scooped the UK Leadership Award for her unfaltering support over 18 years in helping to tackle unemployment and educational underachievement among disengaged young people. I cannot emphasise enough how proud I am of what we have achieved last week - it is an excellent start to a very exciting year for us in Wales. Throughout the year, we will be looking at new ways to help disadvantaged young people in the area. I would therefore like to thank all volunteers, staff, supporters, donors and ambassadors for their dedication to The Prince's Trust and the 3,000 young people we support in Wales, young people who are struggling at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. Between us, we will help 75 per cent of them find work or move into education or training.
Michael Mercieca, Director, Finance and Operations,
The Prince's Trust, 18 Park Square, East London.