A North Devon MP has welcomed the announcement of funding which will help unemployed young people in Devon.

Devon is set to receive £1,763,063 of funding to get young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET), earning or learning again.

As part of the recently launched Youth Contract, the government will target funding to 16 and 17-year-olds who have no GCSEs at A* - C and who are at the highest risk of long-term disengagement.

Nick Harvey MP said: “Liberal Democrats in the coalition government are doing the right thing and supporting young people in the South West who have had difficulty finding a job or training when they’ve left school.

“Today’s announcement will ensure they receive personal, targeted support from experts to help them develop the confidence and skills that the need to stay in education or find a job.

“Sitting at home with nothing to do when you’re so young can knock the stuffing out of you for years. It is a tragedy for the young people involved and a ticking time bomb for the economy and our society as a whole.

“This problem isn’t new, but in the current economic climate we urgently need to step up efforts to ensure some of our most troubled teenagers have the skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed.”

“Youth unemployment is a slow burn social disaster so it’s right that although money is tight, the coalition government is prioritising investment in the Youth Contract to get young people earning or learning.”