WORCESTER-based charity YSS will have a special royal guest when it celebrates its 30th birthday later this year.

The charity, based at Carden Street, is holding a special celebration of the anniversary at Worcester Warriors' Sixways ground on Monday, October 3.

And the keynote speaker at the event will be the Princess Royal, who is the charity's patron and who will be making her seventh visit to the organisation.

YSS started out in 1986 as a multi-agency project called the Intensive Support Scheme, hosted by the Worcester Diocesan Board for Social Responsibility with a management board consisting of social services, youth services, education, probation, police and local magistrates.

It is now an independent charity providing community based support services for people who are vulnerable, have complex needs and who face difficult life challenges. It is currently operating 16 projects across West Mercia and Warwickshire, with a team of 50 staff and over 150 volunteers supporting over 2,500 people a year.

The charity's chief executive Lorraine Preece said: “We are extremely proud that HRH the Princess Royal has been our patron since 2008. She has always taken an active interest in our work having visited various projects over the years, meeting and speaking at length to many service users, volunteers, staff and partner agencies. We are particularly delighted that Her Royal Highness is able to join us for our 30-year celebration event in October.”

As well as the Princess, the anniversary event will include speakers Lord Bradley, author of the Bradley report on people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system, and Sara Llewellyn, chief executive of the Barrow Cadbury Trust.

For more information about the work of YSS including how to volunteer or help fundraise, please visit yss.org.uk.