British singing star and X-Factor judge Cheryl Cole has met up with Prince Charles as she announces plans to start her own charitable fund.

The singer has said that she will be beginning her own charity, to be known as the Cheryl Cole Foundation, in April.

The charity will be working to help troubled teenagers in her home town of Newcastle in the north east of England with money raised through the charity being donated to the Prince's Trust in the local area.

Discussions about the plans for the Cheryl Cole Foundation took place with Prince Charles at Clarence House in London with Cheryl saying: “Too many young people grow up thinking no one cares and don't believe they can make anything of themselves.”

She added: “They have so much potential – but can go off the rails without the right care and support. I want my foundation to help them realise their potential and get their lives on track.”

The Prince's trust with Prince Charles as its helm, has been working to help disadvantaged young people across the entire UK by providing business help and educational opportunities since it began back in 1976.

Teenagers who may have had problems at school, had trouble in the past with the police, are leaving care homes or are long term unemployed have all benefited from Prince's trust schemes with more than three out of four people helped moving into jobs, education or training as a result of their involvement.

Cheryl Cole continued to praise the work of the Prince's Trust: “I have always been a great admirer of the work of the Prince's Trust with disadvantaged young people across the UK. It is the perfect charity for my foundation to support.”