During these challenging economic times, it is often young people who suffer most.

In Britain today there are more than one million people under 25 who are not in work, education or in training and many more have under-achieved at school. In the North West alone, more than 60,000 young people aged between 16 and 29 will claim job seekers allowance this month.

In their short life times, many of these young people will have already been written off as “losers” and others branded “unloved” or “out of control”.

This week marks The Prince’s Trust’s first national Youth Week to highlight the positive difference that young people make to communities across the North West.

Research shows that teenagers are more likely to volunteer than any other age group. Young people on Prince’s Trust programmes have also contributed almost £100 million to their local communities through tens of thousands of community projects across the UK.

This figure is especially significant when you remember that these young volunteers will have either struggled at school, have been in care, have a history of long-term unemployment or have been in trouble with the law.

Their successes are testament to the fact that young people do care about where they live and can turn their lives around with the right support.

If we stop believing in our young people, young people will stop believing in themselves.

To pledge support for young people, visit www.princes-trust.org.uk/youthweek.

Jackie Tyler, Regional Director for The Prince’s Trust in the North West, Burnley.