A £14MILLION bid to create more than 200 new jobs for young people in Pendle and provide training for 1,500 more has been handed in to Government officials.

The Pendle Youth Focus scheme would also help nearly 800 young people find jobs and set up about 70 young entrepreneurs in their own businesses.

If the project is successful, the money will be invested across Pendle over seven years.

The borough is one of the worst youth unemployment blackspots in the North West.

One in three of unemployed people in Pendle are aged 16-24 years old and in Nelson's Whitefield ward, a fifth of young people are jobless.

Pendle Partnership, the consortium of private and public groups behind the bid, submitted its proposals to boost jobs and training for young people to government officials yesterday.

The Partnership is looking for £2.7million of government grant which would attract further private, public and European investment totalling £14.2million.

The cash would fund a wide range of projects including:

Supporting placements with local employers for young people finding it difficult to settle into work.

A high-tech information bus to travel the area taking information about job and business opportunities.

Help for young people to set up in business on their own.

A self-build home scheme.

Training young offenders to help care for disabled people.

Dennis Mendoros, the Partnership's chairman, said: "Pendle's young people have a wealth of talent and skills which often go to waste through lack of opportunities.

"This scheme could be the most important one which Pendle Partnership has ever undertaken.

"It sets out a strategy of hope for young people in Pendle."

Pendle Council leader Councillor Alan Davies added: "Young people are the future of the borough.

"It is only through developing their talents and helping them to fulfil their potential that we can ensure a sustainable future for the community of Pendle."

The bid will have to compete with other applications from across the North West for limited funds.

A decision is expected in March and if Pendle is successful, projects will start in the autumn.

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