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The Diana Award, the charity set up in his mother’s memory, has warned that the impact of the pandemic on mental health and social inequality has been felt most acutely by the young. Now William has backed its new five-year plan to help.

He said: “The world has changed significantly in the 20 years since The Diana Award was established, however challenges remain ‑ and urgent change is needed so young people inherit a world of which we can be proud.”

The charity, founded in 1999 as a legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better, aims to bolster the position of young people in our society and give them a seat at the table in discussions on the country’s future.

It warns that a generation afflicted by anxiety and other mental health problems have seen their education disrupted, their career prospects hampered and their chances of retaining a job and owning their own home damaged.

The Diana Award intends to step up its work with the Government, MPs, big business and other employers to support activities in schools and youth organisations and give Britain’s youth a louder voice.

In its five-year plan, entitled Future Forward, the charity vowed to use mentoring to better prepare young people for the workplace and develop confidence and resilience. 

It also said it would campaign for changes in policy to reduce inequality for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In a foreword to the plan, William said: “The lives of thousands of young people have been impacted by the global pandemic, with education interrupted, work opportunities disrupted and social connections strained.

“Yet many of the young people who I have been fortunate to meet over the last year have shown an enormous passion and commitment to helping their communities recover and rebuild ‑ and beyond that, are working hard to tackle the social inequality and injustice that they see in the world around them.”

He said organisations like The Diana Award had never been more important in nurturing the talent of young people and working with them to bring improvements and ensure they had a seat at the table.

The charity noted that 4.3 million children were living in poverty in the UK in March 2020, when the pandemic hit. 

But despite the challenges that presented, it said 70 percent of young people were more engaged than ever in social and community action. 

A further 80 percent had reported the pandemic had increased their wish to change the world.

It cited research conducted for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which in June this year found that 39 percent of young people said they had become more interested in politics since March last year. 

Tessy Ojo, chief executive of the charity, said: “We know young people are often closest to society’s problems, with many at risk of poor mental health and low social mobility. In the shadow of the pandemic, we need to take action now. Who better to lead that change than young people?”

Some of those who have benefited from schemes run by the charity around the world added their voices to the report, saying what they hoped to achieve by 2026. 

Lydia Alty, 16, from Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, who sits on the charity’s anti-bullying youth board, said she wanted to ensure “people who are making our decisions are hearing the young people”.

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