New job scheme being launched in county

A NEW project helping some of the most vulnerable young people in Leicestershire find work is being launched.

Charity Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) is rolling out its Youth Employability Scheme (YES) in September after securing £1.94 million in funding.

The project will focus on young people who face extra barriers to work, such as mental or physical health difficulties, homelessness, or being a carer for a loved one.

But it will also be open to any person aged 15 to 24 who is not in employment, education or training.

VAL infrastructure executive manager Simon Jenner said: “This project has been developed for more than a year alongside eight partners and the young people we’ll be supporting.

“This means the project will be able to deliver innovative, person-centred solutions based on what young people really need.”

The YES scheme will offer one to one mentoring, work placements, creative short courses and team building.

It is being delivered by the project’s eight partners The Prince’s Trust, Seed Creativity, Soft Touch Arts, Twenty Twenty, Leicestershire Cares, Bangladesh Youth and Cultural Shomiti, The Bridge and Warwickshire College.

The project, which was jointly funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund, will be launched in September.

For more information visit www. valonline.org.uk/project-change-livesyoung-people