A PLACEMENT scheme which helps unemployed young people gain work, confidence and new skills returns next month.

The Prince's Trust's Movement to Work scheme runs in Barrow in partnership with BAE Systems Submarines and The Launch Group.

The month-long course sees a selected group of unemployed 16- to 25-year-olds spend two weeks on a practical placement at BAE Systems gaining vocational skills and building their confidence.

Two weeks are also spent working with The Launch Group boosting employment skills and other valuable skills to help them succeed with their next steps.

The scheme in Barrow offers the potential to gain employment offers with some young people securing apprenticeship entry with BAE Systems Submarines.

The course held in November last year saw eight young people gain apprenticeship offers with BAE Systems. The Prince's Trust continues to work with other members of the group who may chose to continue training or look at opportunities with other companies.

The scheme is helping to tackle youth unemployment and build skills required in the workplace.

Greg Plummer, Prince's Trust Get Into programme executive for Lancashire and Cumbria said: "Movement to Work is an absolutely marvellous opportunity.

"It offers young people who are unemployed and maybe facing barriers the opportunity to gain valuable work-based vocational skills and potentially gain employment."

BAE Systems supports the scheme nationally at its sites. Richard Hamer, education director and head of early career programmes at BAE Systems, said: “The Movement to Work programme is a fantastic initiative that gives local young people a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience with the company and provide a platform on which to build on.”

This week The Prince's Trust revealed that more than one in four young people do not feel in control of their lives, worrying about job prospects as well as levels of self-confidence.

The youth charity revealed that many aged 16 to 25 feel "trapped", with low levels of wellbeing. The survey of 2,200 young people found that almost half felt stressed about their body image, two out of five had worried about their job or school and three out of five lacked self-confidence. Three out of five blamed recent political events for their anxiety, while rising living costs were also a cause for concern.

Dame Martina Milburn, chief executive of the Prince's Trust, said: "This report paints a deeply concerning picture of a generation who feel their ability to shape their own future is slipping away from them.

"It's shocking how many feel so desperate about their situation and it is vital that we support them to develop the confidence and coping skills they need to succeed in life.

"The single most important thing we can do to empower these young people is to help them into a job, an education course or on to a training programme.

"Now, more than ever, we must work together to provide the support and opportunities they need to unlock a brighter future."