Young poor to get helping hand into jobs and business

YOUNG people living in poverty in the Luton and Dunstable area are to be given the chance to grasp a helping hand into jobs and enterprise.

The Prince’s Trust and RBS bank have found that 29 per cent of children in Luton are living in poverty.

In Central Bedfordshire, including Dunstable and Houghton Regis, that figure is estimated at 12 per cent.

The Prince’s Trust says children from deprived backgrounds are more likely to suffer from a lack of belief that they will achieve any of their goals in life than children from richer areas.

Life goals include buying a nice house, finding a good job or setting up in business.

Graham Ball, regional director for youth charity The Prince’s Trust in the East of England, said: “We simply cannot ignore this inequality.”

Economist Fionnuala Earley of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group said: “By helping young people into jobs and enterprise, we can not only help them to escape poverty and change their lives for the better, but we can help to break down the pattern of low aspirations. This will reap wider benefits for the UK economy both now and in the future.”

This summer The Prince’s Trust is running National Citizen Service, a free scheme for year 11 school leavers to learn new skills, challenge themselves and make a positive impact in their community. Visit www.princes-trust.org.uk/ncs or call 0800 842 842.