Didn't Get The Results You Wanted Yesterday...?

Around 600,000 young people in the UK are on school holidays right now. That means unlimited sunbathing, chilling with mates and dreaming about exciting futures, right? Wrong. In fact, thousands of young people feel hopeless about life after school.
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Around 600,000 young people in the UK are on school holidays right now. That means unlimited sunbathing, chilling with mates and dreaming about exciting futures, right?

Wrong.

In fact, thousands of young people feel hopeless about life after school.

GCSE results are looming and the pressure is on - especially for those who struggled in lessons.

Where I'm from - in Ireland - youth unemployment has sky-rocketed, with more than one in four young people out of work. Across the UK, almost a million young people are struggling to find jobs. This means that struggling school leavers are even more worried about ending up at the back of the dole queue.

I was lucky growing up. I grew up in a single parent family, but was always encouraged to achieve my goals, however far-fetched they seemed.

Not all young people have such a stable home-life. New research from The Prince's Trust, supported by HSBC, shows that a huge one in five young people say that their family life was so stressful they struggled to concentrate on schoolwork - and one in three believe they will end up on benefits due to poor grades.

That's why I'm an Ambassador for The Prince's Trust. The youth charity helps vulnerable young people overcome obstacles in their lives.

The charity has supported a massive 750,000 young people since 1976.

And you'll be surprised at how many of them you know.

Dynamo - the magician who has walked on water - transformed his life with help from The Trust. He was bullied at school, suffering from Crohn's disease. It got so bad that he spent six months in hospital. That's when he turned to The Prince's Trust. They gave him advice, inspiration and a small cash grant to help him build a career. The rest, as they say, is history.

Actor, Idris Elba, held dreams of attending the National Youth Music Theatre after leaving school but couldn't afford to go. The Trust gave him a grant, and in doing so gave him the future he'd always dreamed of. He's now better known as TV's Luther.

Other celebrities who have been supported include singer Paloma Faith, bra-mogul Michelle Mone of Ultimo and rapper and producer Naughty Boy.

It just goes to show that anything is possible, when you have the right support. While today's school leavers are facing the toughest job market in history - they should not give up hope.

You can find your dream job or even start your own business with help from organisations like The Prince's Trust - no matter what background you've had.

On Friday 16th August I will be hosting The Prince's Trust Youth Forum which will inspire young people feeling anxious about their future. Jameela Jamil, Ed Skrein and Wretch 32 will be joining me to share stories of how they have overcome the odds to get to where they are today.

If I could tell my teenage-self not to worry, I would. Instead, I'm telling the next generation.

The Prince's Trust Youth Forum, supported by HSBC, will be streamed live at www.facebook.com/PrincesTrust at 1pm on Friday 16th August. Follow the event on Twitter @PrincesTrust and send in questions for the panel #PTsummer.