THIS year The Prince's Trust celebrates its 30th birthday. This year the Worcester News has chosen the trust as its preferred charity. Lauren Murray takes a look at a project provided by the trust for school children.

INFORMAL, fun, and interesting ¨C that is how these youngsters would

describe their school lessons.

But this is one lesson with a difference and taking part has changed their lives.

Two years ago these Christopher Whitehead Language College pupils

were disillusioned with school ¨C they disliked it and saw no point to what they were learning.

They were the kind of young people the youth charity the Prince's Trust deem 'at risk' of underachieving, students likely to truant or be expelled.

However, through one of the trust's newest projects, xl clubs, these youngsters have had their interest in education re-ignited.

In fact the class has already achieved GCSE equivalents, weeks before their peers will even sit their exams.

The Prince's Trust runs the xl clubs in 515 school nationwide and in six Worcestershire schools.

The students work towards awards, accredited by ASDAN. The bronze award is a first step, mostly achieved during the first year, and to get it students much complete a set number of hours and two modules.

The silver award is equivalent to an E GCSE, and the gold award is equivalent to a B GCSE. Both are worked towards in the last year of

school, and help give the students a confidence to tackle their GSCEs.

Christopher Whitehead, in Bromwich Road, is a school at the forefront of alternative education.

The A.C.E Base (Alternative Curricular Education), a centre within the school, provides year 10 and 11 pupils with a wide range of

alternative curricular activities, including xl clubs.

Loraine Dally is head of alternative curriculum and the school's xl co-ordiantor.

She said the Prince's Trust pupils have excelled and embraced the course.

She said: "I have always said if you give these youngsters something to be proud about, they will excel. "Before the course a lot of

them didn't want to be at school, they did not see how it would help them.

"But we have been able to make what they learn relevant to them.

"The Prince's Trust students have grown in confidence and motivation. Their attendance has also improved.

"They care about their environment and each other. We are all so proud of what they have achieved. "There are three xl clubs at

the St John's school. The two year 10 groups, a total of 24 pupils, are on currently on work experience, just part of their World of

Work Module. The year 11 pupils, who will soon sit their GCSEs, have

recently found out they have passed this class with flying colours. They are the first xl club in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to achieve gold awards, proof that the hard work is paying off.

Some of the areas they have covered include:

* Personal and interpersonal

skills

* Citizenship

* Community Projects

* Enterprising

* Work placements.

The Christopher Whitehead pupils have been on litter picks, built bird boxes, and planted bulbs in the school grounds. They have completed a banking course that showed them how to value their

money as well practical advice like how to write a cheque or

apply for a loan.

Representatives from the Worcestershire Duckworth Trust have given talks about recycling and an RSPB expert gave a talk about birds.

Mrs Dally said the confidence the teenagers have gained from the course is immeasurable.

She said: "These young people want to be successful and they want to achieve.

"They are positive and they care about their environment."

For the past three decades the Prince's Trust has been reaching out to young people, offering them opportunities which are not available to them elsewhere. Other Worcestershire schools that run xl clubs are:

*Christopher Whitehead

Language College, Worcester;

*Blessed Edward Oldcorne

Catholic College, Worcester;

*Elgar Technology College,

Worcester;

*Chantry High

School, Martley;

*Baxter College, Kidderminster;

*Prince Henry's High School,

Evesham.

To get in contact with the trust, whether you are a young person wanting help or an adult who wants to volunteer, call the regional

office on 01905 27727 or the national helpline 0800 842842.