UNEMPLOYED young people in former coalfield areas will get help to find work from a £700,000 scheme.

The Coalfields’ Regeneration Trust is investing the money in the futures of 289 young people as new figures show that youth unemployment has reached a record high.

The number of jobless young people, aged 16 to 24-years-old, now stands at 1.02 million.

The trust’s programme will focus on people aged between 16 and 25, who are more than twice as likely to be out of work than older people.

And in recognition of the growing number of young people not in education, employment or training, more than 200 apprenticeships will be created for 16 to 18-year-olds.

Gary Ellis, trust chief executive, said: “Former coalfield communities have been badly hit by the economic downturn and this has compounded the problems already experienced by young people.

“This programme is a direct response to help them into work and create a strong platform for their future.”

The apprenticeships will provide an opportunity for people to earn as they learn and will be available in a wide variety of industries and occupations.

The trust will be investing £739,256 in the programme and has attracted more than £1.6m of additional funds from partner organisations. Each apprenticeship will run for a minimum of 12 months and young people will start taking up the opportunities over the next three months.

Danielle Trett, from Bedlington, started her electrician apprenticeship last week. The 24-year-old had been unemployed since leaving school, in part because of her unspent minor criminal conviction.

She turned to Castle Morpeth Disability Association and they offered her a place on the Coalfields National Apprenticeship programme.

She started with Northumberland Council’s Street Lighting team last week.