Helping hand for school leavers

Rising to the challenge on a scheme in Nottinghamshire

Teenagers who left school in England this summer are being offered sporting and creative activities to ease them into work or further education.

The National Lottery "good causes" distributor, the New Opportunities Fund, is running pilots of its Activities for Young People award programme on a range of summer schemes, involving 12,500 young people.

These offer daytime activities and residential courses in such things as whitewater rafting, climbing and kayaking, and arts, music, drama and environmental projects.

The schemes are linked to local training providers and employers who are offering taster courses and work experience.

The youngsters can also get help with CV writing and interview skills. A personal adviser from the Connexions service is on hand to advise on education, training and work.

'What people want'

The Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Tessa Jowell, said the projects would make "a real difference to people's lives".

"The New Opportunities Fund puts National Lottery money where lottery players want it to go: Supporting education, health and the environment," she said.

The idea of the Activities for Young People scheme is to motivate young people and help them to make informed decisions about their futures - and to encourage responsible citizenship.

It will be implemented in full next year, at a cost of £38.75m.

The New Opportunities Fund's chief executive, Stephen Dunmore, said: "Pilot schemes have demonstrated the value of these kinds of activity in helping young people to build their self esteem and to develop the transferable skills valued by employers.

"This initiative reflects our commitment to tackle disadvantage. It will enable potentially life-changing opportunities to become a reality for young people today."