A £49 million initiative to help around 30,000 young people in Wales improve their career opportunities has just been launched by Jane Hutt, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.
Reach the Heights will target 11 - 19 year-olds across West Wales and the Valleys, and aims to help them build a brighter future and prevent them from becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
The project has been awarded £27 million of European Social Fund resources plus match funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and associated sponsors.
The Education Minister launched the initiative at an event at Llanelli's Parc y Scarlets which will be attended by about 150 delegates from voluntary, statutory and business organisations.
Ms Hutt said: "Our One Wales agenda carries the ambition of a Wales where everyone achieves their full potential. We recently launched our strategy and action plan to prevent young people from becoming NEET and re-engage those who have lost their motivation and self esteem.
"We have committed substantial funding to Reach the Heights so that we can deliver on our goals to help those most at need. Work will be strategic and collaborative with our joint sponsors on their project."
The funding for Reach the Heights will support two individual projects: First Footholds and Routes to the Summit.
Both programmes will use a range of innovative practices such as training, workshops, taster sessions, mentoring, advice, support and work related experiences, so that young people in Wales have the necessary skills for future education and employment. The programmes will play a key role in sharing, learning and good practice across the local authorities and wider stakeholders in Wales.
First Footholds will engage with Wales' most disadvantaged young people to help them tackle the barriers that prevent them from remaining in school and moving on into further learning. This includes those caught up in the criminal justice system and people with special needs or disabilities.
Routes to the Summit aims to raise the skills and aspirations of young people, giving them the best possible chance of future career development and expanding opportunities to gain work related skills. Support will be specific to local areas to improve confidence, decision-making and basic skills so that young people can make better progress in school and move into higher education and employment more readily.
Both projects will be delivered collaboratively with a range of joint sponsors which includes the Arts Council, Children in Wales, Funky Dragon, Save the Children, Community Music Wales, Techniquest, SNAP Cymru and Urdd Gobaith Cymru.