YOUNG jobless people in Pendle are being given the chance to learn new skills, gain qualifications and help the environment at the same time.

A new jobs scheme, which has just been launched, offers young people aged between 16 and 24 the chance to learn practical skills such as dry stone walling, tree and wild flower planting and footpath construction.

All this while working towards an NVQ award.

The NVQ could then be used to gain jobs in the fields of conservation or the environment.

Pendle Environmental Action Group has been set up by the borough council to carry out environmental improvements in the countryside and local towns.

The aim is to take on 20-plus young people each year over the initial seven years of the scheme and train them in new skills. The scheme is part of the 'Kick Start For Jobs' strategy, run by Pendle Youth Focus, which is overseen by the Pendle Partnership and which aims to tackle the problems of low attainment and high youth unemployment in the area.

Derek Gascoigne, project manager, said: "The Environmental Action Group's role is to enable the development of unemployed individuals through practical conservation in Pendle.

"We're looking to take people off the dole and train them in various skills.

"All the work will be done in Pendle and will be based around environmental improvements.

"There will be a formal qualification at the end of it."

Anyone interested in finding out more about the scheme can contact their local job centre.

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