TOO many disadvantaged young people in the North West are being 'locked out' of the jobs market and education system, according to a new report published by the Prince's Trust.

But a number of initiatives are working to address the problem in East Lancashire.

The report - Reaching the Hardest to Reach: Breaking Barriers? - says too many socially excluded young people are being held back by a lack of qualifications, bad behaviour, drug or alcohol abuse, or a criminal record.

The results, supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, are based on interviews with more than 900 of the UK's 'hardest to reach' 14 to 25-year-olds who were asked about their aspirations and the barriers preventing them achieving their goals.

In the North West 26 per cent of young people admitted their own bad behaviour was a barrier; 43 per cent cited lack of qualifications; more than a third said they were held back by a lack of confidence; and 70 per cent of socially excluded young people said family was more important to them than getting work.

Richard Marsh, head of development for the Prince's Trust, said: "Through our range of innovative projects across East Lancashire, we aim to try and pick up those young people who are likely to face difficulties in their lives at an earlier stage.

"We purposely work with the hardest to reach young people as these are the ones that are often left behind.

"By providing opportunities at key points in their lives and maintaining contact with them through the Route 14-25 initiative, the trust works with them to try and overcome some of the barriers that prevent them from achieving their goals."

Over the last two years a number of innovative initiatives and programmes have been launched in East Lancashire to address social exclusion, integrate communities, provide opportunities for young people and address some of the issues following the disturbances in Burnley.

Burnley and Pendle has a mentoring project with volunteers who are matched with 45 young people aged 13-18 to offer practical advice and encouragement on issues from relationships to accommodation to education and employment.

They help young people reach achievable goals and take advantage of opportunities for development.

A similar scheme operates in Blackburn where The Prince's Trust also provides activities including football, basketball and arts for young people 'at risk' of offending or who have been referred from the Youth Offending Team.

Around 140 young people are involved in activities with The Trust in Blackburn and 45 are being mentored individually.