Prince William ‘Blown Away’ by Young Black Scholars During Charity Visit

Prince William said he was “blown away” by a group of young people he described as the next generation of Black leaders.

The future king met scholars and alumni of The Amos Bursary, a charity supporting high-achieving young people of African and Caribbean heritage from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds. Its assistance extends from school and university through to the start of their working lives.

Among those he met was Joseph Simeon, 29, an investment banker based in New York. Simeon told William that many people his age from a similar background were either “dead or in prison”, but that The Amos Bursary had helped him build a far more successful future.

Like other alumni, Simeon received financial support and mentoring from the organisation. He was so passionate about its impact that he travelled to the event to speak with William—even though he was due to get married the following day.

“Tomorrow? You shouldn’t be here!” an astonished William replied. “There are other conversations you should be having. Shouldn’t you be preparing your speech?”

Simeon later said: “I told him that’s how much The Amos Bursary has meant to me. I am now a mentor myself and will take any opportunity to spread the word.”

He added: “This is a topic very close to my heart. While we should, of course, focus on lifting the bottom up, we should also look at lifting the glass ceiling at the top. It’s great to have progress, but we need to make sure the top is being raised too, so people can challenge that glass ceiling. It is then our moral duty to pay it back down to others.”

“We are all very grateful for the support it has given us and for the prince being here today,” Simeon said. “The Amos Bursary has been transformative to my life.”

Organised during Black History Month and Black Enterprise Week, the event was held at Urban MBA in Hoxton, east London. The co-working space helps marginalised young people through education and mentoring.

The Amos Bursary was founded in 2009 by Guyanese-British politician Baroness Valerie Amos and her sister, Coleen Amos OBE. The charity provides direct support to around 50 young people from London and the East Midlands each year, while a further 300 receive online advice and mentoring.

William was welcomed by Coleen Amos, who explained the charity’s aims before introducing him to groups of supporters, many of whom were alumni themselves.

The group included television presenter June Sarpong, who has worked with William before and has supported the charity since its foundation.

Sarpong said the bursary was powerful because it produced tangible results. “When you look at the success rate with young people, it’s extraordinary,” she said. “This is one of the best.”

She added that the programme enabled young people from a wide range of backgrounds, particularly underrepresented communities, to reach their potential and contribute to Britain. “It’s wonderful,” she said.

“It’s full circle,” William remarked.

Downstairs, the prince spoke with Kofi Oppong, founder of Urban MBA. Oppong is particularly focused on giving young people access to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, including laser printing.

He said: ‘Things are changing and quickly. If we don’t reskill and upskill quickly, a generation will lose out.’

‘Do you feel there is going to be a big sea change for people who are graduating now?’ the prince asked.

‘It gives you a bit of hope but also a bit of worry.

‘Perspective is crucial. To see how the rest of the world works.

‘It comes down to leadership and leadership in schools, teachers and the impact they have.’

He was shown how to operate the laser printer and given gifts of a card holder and vase they had made, as well as being shown a prototype trainer.

‘It’s amazing, that’s incredible,’ he said.

In a round table meeting with The Amos Bursary alumni – including an Oxford graduate, a trainee barrister, an investment banker and a business owner – the prince listened to story after story of hope.

Sitting down he joked to laughs: ‘High achievers…which is the kind of vibe I am getting!

‘How important has to been for you guys to be in the bursary? Has it been pivotal.’

‘Yes, one hundred per cent,’ he was told.

‘Having an Amos Bursary in every part of society would be fantastic,’ the prince said.

‘But what would you guys like to see that would allow more young people more opportunities. As someone said to me, talent is everywhere, opportunities aren’t. How do we bridge that gap so that more people can get the chance to show their talents?

‘What were the challenges you guys were facing when you started in employment.’

Before he left the prince posed for a picture with the lively group of supporters, alumni and young talent.

There were cheers for the royal and fair bit of joking about football, particularly when Stephen Brooks, regional director in the West Midlands, said: ‘We’ve all been talking about how great Aston Villa are doing!’

‘Champions League tonight!’ William shouted, to jokey calls of ‘Arsenal!’

‘Let’s not distract the prince on football,’ the photographer joked.

Xavier Hamilton, 34, one of the first young people helped by The Amos Bursary back in 2009, said: ‘It’s phenomenal he was here. It’s a future king and privately he said he wanted to continue to help and support us. It’s amazing to hear.’