STUDENTS and trustees gathered as the Sir Samuel Mico Trust celebrated its 350th anniversary with its annual ceremony.

As is tradition for the charity, the students it has helped over the past year and the volunteers at the trust took part in a church ceremony and formal reception at the George Inn to recognise the achievements of the students over the past year

The celebrations were attended by a host of dignitaries, including the mayor of Weymouth and Portland Cllr Kate Wheller and Lord-lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell/

The main aim of the trust is to help young people into work and over the past year, it has helped launch 87 youngsters into their chosen careers, with 15 of those being sixth form students from Budmouth College on a scholarship with the trust.

It was also a landmark date for the charity, as it is the 350th year since it was formed by Sir Samuel Mico.

He originally created the trust by donating £500 to help retired seamen and young people in Weymouth but the trust now focuses entirely on helping young people into the world of work, or to help them financially with other projects such as charitable trips around the world.

Gary Hepburn, chairman of the trust, said: “The service went very well, the church was full with youngsters and that’s what it’s all about, helping and supporting young people.

“It’s also what Sir Samuel Mico wanted. He envisaged helping out five people and now, 350 years later, because the trust has been managed well and a lot of time and money has been invested into it, it’s still doing what he originally wanted.

“This year is obviously a bit more reflective because of the milestone, and you think of all the people that have been helped by the charity, and it’s great and we will continue that.”

Cllr Kate Wheller, who has been involved with the trust for a number of years, said: “The service was very well attended and it is so nice to see so many young people there.

“The trust was set up to help young and old people in the borough and that what it continues to do today and I think it’s very important, because young people are the future.

“People are very quick to criticise young people but actually the young people of this borough are terrific and we should be supporting and applauding them.”