Return challenge

Mar 6 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

CHARITY bosses who persuaded Alan Shearer to put his football boots back on last night revealed they are planning a second series of sporting events this year.

Last summer the Prince’s Trust Challenge Trophy raised £250,000 to help unemployed people in the North East with four celebrity challenges.

The games saw the likes of Shearer, Peter Beardsley, Les Ferdinand and Niall Quinn get their kit back on for a match at St James’s Park in the colours of the Duke of Northumberland and the Earl of Durham.

Other events included a golf tournament at Slaley Hall in Northumberland, a cricket match at Durham County Cricket Club and a clay shoot at Mitford Hall in Northumberland.

After receiving the final cheque from Newcastle chairman Chris Mort on Saturday, the trust announced its plans for a 2008 trophy.

The 2008 games are set to include a Celebrity Clay Shoot, a Celebrity Golf Tournament at Slaley Hall on June 26 and a Celebrity Track Day Driving Experience on July 15.

The charity has since said the Challenge Trophy helped its North East region to secure more funds from sports activity in 2007 than any other in the UK.

Yesterday Prince’s Trust regional director David Beavis said: “We are truly grateful to the thousands of people who got behind this campaign to help raise vital funds.

“This money will help change many young lives in the North East, giving them the confidence and practical skills they need to get a job.”

Last year the trust supported more than 3,500 people between that ages of 14 and 30 in the North East with programmes including personal development courses, business start-up finance and grants for community projects. The youth charity, which works with those who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law, needs to raise around £1m per week to continue its valuable work.

For information about this year’s events, call (0191) 497-3210 or for more information about the work of the trust, visit www.princes-trust.org.uk/northeast