Sharing values, enabling dreams… Proud to sponsor ‘Lunch with an Old Bag’ in support of The Prince’s Trust

Glamour, glitz, fantasy… it’s The Prestonfield, of course. But what we really love about the fundraiser Lunch with an Old Bag, which has now raised more than £5.5m for Scotland’s young people, is that it changes real lives.

Cormac, 24, from Livingston, felt like he had no purpose in life. “I felt that I did not have anything useful to offer the team, and I was, and still am, dealing with depression which caused a lack of energy in my day-to-day life. I also have Asperger’s which makes it hard for me to understand some things and made me feel like it would be hard for me to interact with others.”

After successfully completing a Prince’s Trust course on Data Science, Cormac had the confidence to go on and secure a place for an HNC at West Lothian College, significantly improving his career prospects.

Caitlin, 22, from Edinburgh, had been out of work for two years. When the pandemic hit, she also had a seven month old baby to look after. “I was anxious and doubted myself all the time”, she says. But after joining The Trust’s Enterprise programme she overcame her anxiety and gained the skills she needed to set up the business of her dreams: “it’s been amazing. For the first time I genuinely believe in myself.”

For many young people, the partnership of The Prince’s Trust is transformational. Many are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems. But through the training and financial support of The Trust, they are able to gain the confidence they need to turn their lives around.

At Carbon we share the values of The Prince’s Trust and their belief that every young person should have the chance to succeed. Two of our core values are ‘Do the Right Thing’ and ‘Be the Best We Can Be’. If the past 18 months have taught us anything, it’s that we all need to look after each other more. With this in mind, we have recently signed The Mindful Business Charter, which pledges to promote a kinder, fairer workplace. We have also worked hard to increase our well-being activities and training for staff and can now boast five fully-trained Mental Health First Aiders in our team.

It’s a privilege to sponsor Lunch with an Old Bag. There couldn’t be a better destination for the funds raised and we know it will be a rip-roaring event. There will be amazing food, thrilling décor, wild entertainment (the theme is the Roaring Twenties) and bags and bags of style (sorry).

Clutch, minimalist, hobo, cloud (yes, it’s a thing)… it’s all there for the bidding.

Lunch with an Old Bag, Prestonfield House, Friday 10^th September www.lunchwithanoldbag.com/the-event

The Prince’s Trust www.princes-trust.org.uk/

The Mindful Business Charter www.mindfulbusinesscharter.com