Ed Sheeran, Jessie J and more to preform in 02 for Stephen Lawerence Trust

The trust set up in the memory of Stephen Lawrence is facing a battle to survive funding cuts, Doreen Lawrence has warned, after the mother of the murdered teenager announced an all-star concert in his memory.

Emeli Sande, Ed Sheeran and Tinie Tempah are among the stars who will perform at the O2 Arena concert in September, which marks 20 years since the aspiring 18 year-old architect was stabbed to death by a racist gang.

The show, which also features Plan B, Jessie J and Rizzle Kicks, will raise much-needed funds for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, set up in 1999, to help give employment opportunities to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Trust has awarded more than 100 bursaries and assisted young black students break into professions such as architecture and law.

But Mrs Lawrence, 60, Stephen’s mother who founded the charity, said it is now struggling to stay afloat.

Twelve full time staff have been let go since funding was withdrawn in 2011 following the closure of the London Development Agency.

Mrs Lawrence said she received emergency funding from the Home Office following a meeting with Theresa May but added “we shouldn’t have to do that”.

She said: “We shouldn’t have to think ‘that’s just a one-off’. They should look to continue to do it.

“They have seen the work that we do, they have seen the progress we have made, they have seen all the opportunities that young people have had since they have been at the Stephen Lawrence Centre.

“I think that should be something that makes them say: ‘OK, we want to support an organisation like you, you can make a difference to so many young lives, get them off the streets, get them into education, get them into a profession.’ That is what I would like to see the Government do a lot more of. It saves money in the long run.”