The duo were at Lawrence Court Care Home in Byker, Newcastle where they met with young adults from the Prince's Trust Team initiative.

Owen and Butt donned gardening gloves and did their bit to brighten up the care home grounds before heading inside to help 94-year-old Hilda Truman celebrate her birthday.

Toon ace Butt had the honour of cutting the cake after they had blown out the candles and served tea to the residents.

And captain Owen says it's always nice to meet people in the community, both young and old.

young people

"It's been a good day and it's nice to be able to get out in the community," he said.

"It's not every day we do things like this and hopefully it will benefit a few young people who haven't had the best of starts in life.

"There's been a lot of smiles and a few laughs and we've both enjoyed it."

Norman McGlen, from Lawrence Court, said: "Our staff and residents would like to thank The Prince's Trust and Newcastle United Foundation for arranging the visit and also the players for taking time out to spend with them, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day."

self-development

Nick Smith, Prince's Trust head of sport development, said: "10,000 young people transformed their local communities on Prince's Trust projects last year - an investment worth £6m. The help and encouragement our young people received from Michael Owen, Nicky Butt and Newcastle United Foundation is priceless."

The Prince's Trust Team initiative is a 12 week self-development programme for unemployed young people generally from difficult backgrounds, perhaps young offenders, coming out of care or from a drug/alcohol dependent situation.

The course offers the opportunity for the young people to reassess their life and aims to give them the confidence and self-belief to turn their life around, perhaps by moving into volunteering, education or employment.