Image: Mark Dougan, The Prince's Trust NI's Director (left) receives the Northern Ireland Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark certificate from Barry Phillips BEM, Chairman of Legal Island.

Legal Island is delighted to award The Prince’s Trust NI with the Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark, covering all nine of the protected characteristics in equality legislation.

The Prince’s Trust NI work with thousands of young people aged 11 to 30 across Northern Ireland each year, providing them with the confidence and skills they need to get into training, education, or work.

With the support of individuals and organisations from both the public and private sectors locally, this plays a crucial role in helping young people in Northern Ireland transform their lives.

Barry Phillips BEM, Chairman of Legal Island said:

"The Prince’s Trust NI worked hard to achieve the Diversity and Inclusion Chartermark and we are delighted to see they have exciting plans for more D&I activity in the future."

The Prince’s Trust NI Director Mark Dougan said:

“At The Prince’s Trust, we are committed to building and sustaining a community which values and respects people’s different backgrounds, characteristics, ideas, and beliefs. That is why we are proud to achieve the Northern Ireland Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark.” “We work with young people to help them transform their lives by developing the confidence and skills to live, learn and earn. We believe that by having a diverse and happy workforce our team will be empowered to do the best work of their lives and continue to have a positive impact on the lives of young people across Northern Ireland.”

The Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark is Northern Ireland's first Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark covering all nine of the protected characteristics in equality legislation – Sex; Pregnancy or Maternity; Gender Reassignment; Married or Civil Partnership; Religious (or similar Philosophical) Belief or Political Opinion; Race; Sexual Orientation; Disability; and Age.

The Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark is suitable for both small and large organisations, and successful applicants will understand the business case for greater workplace diversity but also accept and cherish the uniqueness of each and every employee.

Would you like your organisation to be recognised as a diverse and inclusive workplace, and celebrated as an early adopter of this brand-new initiative?

Click here for more information and to download an application form

Interested in supporting The Prince’s Trust NI?

There are many ways you can support the work The Prince’s Trust do and help more young people in Northern Ireland fulfil their potential.

This could be with a gift or financial pledge, by taking part in one of their events, nominating The Prince’s Trust as your company’s charity of the year or getting involved in their corporate volunteering programme.

If you’d like to find out more, contact Ruth Cooper, Senior Head of Partnerships in Northern Ireland by email ruth.cooper@princes-trust.org.uk for further information.