Course helps Croydon youth break jobs deadlock

A group of struggling Croydon teenagers have beaten the 14-year unemployment high in the borough, after taking part in an intensive course run by the Prince's Trust.

The thirteen youths, who had been jobless for months despite clocking up hundreds of interviews between them, all found work following the three-week 'Get into Logistics' scheme.

Croydon's youth unemployment has risen by 70 per cent in the past year, with more than 2,800 young people claiming jobseeker's allowance.

Craig Vince, 17, said he was "over the moon" at being offered a job with international courier DHL, which funded the scheme through its charitable foundation.

He said: "I've applied for more than 100 jobs in the past seven months, but haven't been getting anywhere. I felt really down and unmotivated and the course has changed everything. I used to be shy, but now I've got loads of motivation and confidence.

All I've wanted to do is find a job, so I'm pleased to start working my way up the ladder at DHL."

The teenagers were buddied up with DHL staff during the scheme and took part in CV workshops and classes to help them develop their skills.

Julian Barrell, director of fundraising at The Prince's Trust, said such support was "instrumental" in the current economic climate.

He said: "We need £1m a week to help young people like Craig reach their potential."