A NEW project to help give young people “a fighting chance” is being launched by Ryedale Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

The scheme, which will be the first of its kind organised by the service, aims to provide help and support to the younger generation across the district.

In its annual report, Ryedale CAB said more and more young people aged between 16 and 25 were coming forward who has lost some or all of their income due to benefit sanctions.

Young persons champion Thijs Baxter, who joined the CAB two years ago, said: “I found that, as of September 2013, there were 140 young people claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA) in Ryedale district.

“This represents 28.6 per cent of all JSA claimants in Ryedale.”

Thijs said a successful bid to the Big Lottery Awards For All will allow the bureau to run a pilot project from November.

He said: “The project will use trained volunteers to provide assistance and support for young people in identifying and pursuing appropriate and desired employment and training opportunities.

“It will also train young people in CV preparation, job seeking and interview techniques as well as helping them to access statutory/charitable funds to buy suitable clothing job for interviews and funds to enable them to take up work and survive until their first pay day.”

Thijs added: “The project will be the first of its kind at Ryedale CAB.”