Venture to gain from a place on the royal wedding gift list

THEY may not have invites to the big day, but an Edinburgh-based youth charity is set to share in a big slice of the royal wedding.

The Bruntsfield-based Venture Trust has been left stunned after being chosen to benefit from Prince William and Kate Middleton's charitable wedding gift fund.

It is one of 26 charities chosen by the royal couple to benefit from well-wishers making gift donations to celebrate their wedding.

The Trust helps disadvantaged young people turn their lives around with the help of outward-bound adventures and long-term support.

The charities were all chosen personally by the couple to reflect their own interests, according to a statement from St James's Palace.

Chief executive Greg Barton said he was immensely grateful to the couple for their "thoughtful and compassionate" gesture in setting up the fund. He said: "I think it's an inspired idea and we're hugely privileged to be selected.

"I think it's just a wonderful gesture and in terms of their wedding, it underpins it as something of real value alongside the beginning of their formal relationship."

He said he had no idea how much the charity would receive from the fund, but he hoped it would mark the beginning of a long relationship with the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, which will administer the scheme. He said: "Given their time studying in Scotland, I think the couple recognise the power of the wilderness in the personal development work that we offer young people. Their support will help us reach our target of helping more than 1500 young people over the next three years.

"The Venture Trust has worked with a number of organisations, including the likes of the Princes Trust, and they are very much aware of our work and so I think it's as a result of that. On behalf of Venture Trust, I'd like to say a massive thank you to Prince William and Miss Middleton - and wish them every happiness in their marriage."

The Venture Trust helps young people, including those in care, young offenders, the homeless, and those affected by drug or alcohol abuse. It offers personal development programmes which include wilderness trips in the north of Scotland.

The fund is international, accepting donations in six currencies, and including among its beneficiaries the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. For information on how to donate, see www.royal weddingcharityfund.org.