King's Trust

Working for young people

Through our partnership with The King’s Trust we have helped over 7,600 young people in the UK, empowering them with the skills and confidence for a brighter future by providing training, development, and employment opportunities.

Homesense and TK Maxx are longstanding sponsors of The King's Trust Awards, specifically sponsoring the Homesense Young Achiever Award.

Employability Programmes

The King's Trust Get Into programmes provide hands-on training throughout the UK, boosting young people's confidence and equipping them with relevant skills, supporting them to move into sustainable employment.

Since 2013, through our partnership with The King's Trust, we have supported over 2,300 young people through our Get Into employability programmes as well as through Kickstart (2021). Over 80% of those who successfully complete a Get Into programme go on to pursue a career with us.

*figures correct as of 2025.

Achieve confidence and more

Homesense is also supporting The King’s Trust's Achieve programme, a personal development course aimed to re-engage 11-19 year olds within education. So far, through this programme, we've helped over 7,300 young people develop their skills and confidence to continue with their education and succeed.

Since 2016, together with our customers at Homesense and TK Maxx, we’ve raised over £4.1 million for The King’s Trust.

The King’s Trust Awards

Homesense and TK Maxx are longstanding sponsors of The King’s Trust Awards which celebrates young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local communities, as well as people who have played a role in supporting the work of The King’s Trust.

We also sponsor the Homesense Young Achiever Award, which recognises inspiring young people who have overcome barriers to transform their lives.

How the partnership helps to shape lives…

Pearse began his school life at an Irish medium school, where he was diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). At age nine, he was transferred to a school better placed to support his needs. However, the change made Pearse feel he was being left behind. “I couldn’t focus on work, no matter how hard I tried. I felt embarrassed and anxious all the time, so I would mess about to cover this up. I didn’t think I could achieve anything.”

Later, Pearse moved to St Vincent’s Centre. Although his teachers found him likeable, he could be very disruptive and argumentative when challenged. In 2020, Pearse was introduced to The King’s Trust Achieve programme. His first unit focused on interpersonal and self-management skills. “Learning about passive and assertive behaviour and aggressive responses made me think about how I respond to situations and manage my emotions”.

At the start of his first year of study, Pearse learned he was going to become a dad at 14 years old. Pearse’s family, along with the St Vincent’s staff, were concerned the news might cause Pearse to lose focus, but it had the opposite effect. “Becoming a dad changed everything – I really wanted to turn my life around and be the best I can be for my daughter and my family.”

Pearse was working hard, managing his responsibilities as a father while studying, when he received the heartbreaking news his 19-year-old brother had died by suicide. Still only 15 years old himself, Pearse’s resilience shone through in the way he managed his grief and supported his mum.

Despite these challenges, Pearse went on to achieve eight Level 2 qualifications, equivalent to eight GCSE’s A*-C.

Pearse is now carving out a brighter future for himself and his family. He is studying towards his next goal, which is to become a qualified youth worker, and hopes to move onto a degree in youth work. “I want to reach people like my brother. I know I can be a positive role model for young people who don’t have one.”

FIND YOUR NEAREST STORE

BACK TO THE TOP