Placements are being offered to young people in Lancashire in the Government's Kickstart Scheme.

People between 16 and 24 can apply for one of 80 job placements from Newground Together, the charitable arm of Together Housing Group.

The company is an approved gateway for the DWPs Kickstart Scheme which provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24-year-olds who are at risk of long-term unemployment - which is especially prominent given the job struggles faced because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Within Together Housing, there are 47 paid placements. Newground Together has also developed a further 27 placements in partnership with Blackburn Youth Zone and six placements at three other local contractors.

The vacancies include administration, environmental services and trades.

The government pays the minimum wage, National Insurance and pension contributions of individuals for 25 hours per week over a period of six months.

Included in the placement is wraparound support delivered by Newground Together which includes training, CV writing, interview techniques and one-to-one support.

Sharn Wightman, the Project Lead for Kickstart, said: “Kickstart offers a lifeline to young people whose job prospects have been hit by the pandemic. The scheme aims to build confidence, experience and skills in the workplace through on-the-job training, as well as providing learning and development opportunities to boost long-term job prospects.”

In addition to developing these positions, Newground Together’s employability advisors and mentors will be working closely with the youngsters throughout their placement.

The young people will also be offered a four week ‘Planning your Future’ course towards the end of the placement period to help them get prepared for working life.