The Prince of Wales urged young people to help put the "Great" back
into Britain at a garden party for his charity today.
Addressing volunteers from the Prince's Trust in the garden of
Clarence House, the Prince praised them for their work.
"Without people like yourselves we are not able to help people. Now
we really do have a chance," he said.
"There's a huge task out there to be undertaken. So many young people
need to be reached out to by us, and with your growing numbers we can
reach more people and help put the 'Great' back into Britain."
Dean Gee, a volunteer for the charity, made a speech in front of the
70 other volunteers and Prince Charles.
Later, the 28-year-old, from East Yorkshire, told how he had been on
the verge of suicide before a volunteer from the Prince's Trust rang his
doorbell.
"You could say the Prince's Trust saved my life," he said.
He was a full-time carer for his mother and found it very difficult
to cope.
He said: "I was often bullied and there were drug users in my
family."
Mr Gee said that after a short spell of happiness, he spiralled into
depression when he returned home to care for his mother, and thought
about ending his life.
"I had tasted life and I wanted more, and depression set in.
"I had forgotten that I'd signed up to something on the internet, and
then a volunteer from the Prince's Trust came along.
"I won a prize to help pay for driving lessons and then I went on a
week-long course.
"After that, my confidence went through the roof and I never looked
back."
Now Mr Gee is a Young Ambassador and helps young people who find
themselves in similar situations to the one he experienced.
Another Young Ambassador, Sam Teale, 19, from Bristol, met Prince
Charles at the garden party.
She was bullied after an accident left her scarred, and she turned to
drugs and alcohol.
After a 12-week course with the Prince's Trust, her self-esteem was
boosted.
She said: "I gained the ambition to get myself a job. Volunteering
gives me an opportunity to give something back to society."