LOTTERY funding will help to get young unemployed people back into work, according to the boss of an Oxford-based charity which helps the jobless and homeless.

Aspire Oxford provides management services for local councils and colleges and creates work placements for the long-term unemployed and people coming out of prison.

Paul Roberts, chief operating officer, has welcomed the creation of a new project backed by the Big Lottery Fund which will help to provide a programme of training and support for the young unemployed across Oxfordshire.

The project, entitled Unlocking Potential for Oxfordshire, will receive up to £734,000 over the next three years as part of the Building Better Opportunities programme, jointly funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund.

Mr Roberts said the funding would support teenagers aged 17 to 19 who have not been in employment, education or training for six months or more - known as NEETs.

He added: "This is really good news for young people who have not been able to find work for a while.

"We help about 40 young people a year in this category and with this extra funding we will be able to increase that number to about 65.

"The plan is for a network of nine community enterprises like ours across the county to help 220 NEETs.

"It's vital to help these young people because the longer they have been inactive the harder it is to get their lives back on track.

"Then they could become vulnerable to substance misuse and homelessness.

"Oxford has one of the highest rates in the South East for young people in the NEET category getting involved in substance abuse."

The programme will help organisations like Aspire provide one-to-one support that includes handling first steps into paid work or higher education and training.

It will also provide training in construction, catering and sports coaching, and support work experience placements.

Fun activities including football sessions, bike maintenance and quad biking will also be on offer.

Mr Roberts said the investment came at a time when county council funding to support NEETs was being cut.

He added: "This exciting project will use the power of community enterprise to unlock huge potential for Oxfordshire through a fantastic range of opportunities for the young people in our county who need it most.

"It will also be a great opportunity for employers to engage positively with young people to help tackle their own recruitment needs.”

Susan Brown, Oxford City Council's board member for customer and corporate services said: "I am delighted that this excellent project is now also being boosted by Big Lottery funding to match the European funding.

"It provides valuable help to some of our most disadvantaged young people - those who have not worked or been in education or training for six months or more.

"Critically, funding is available to cover childcare, subsistence and transport costs and to help young people continue to develop their chosen activities."

The Big Lottery is the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

Every year it invests over £650m and awards around 12,000 grants across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes.