Youngsters aged from 18 to 24 who have been unemployed for more than six months, will have to choose from four options.

These are full time work, full time training or education, voluntary work, or environmental work.

There will be tough sanctions for youngsters who won't co-operate.

If they refuse all the options they will lose all their benefits for two weeks, and 60 per cent of them after that.

The Warrington Guardian asked young people for their views on the jobs scene, and the choices they will make through welfare to work.

We talked to unemployed young people at YMCA Training, Warrington, part of the YMCA movement, where they are all doing courses which they hope will lead to work.

We also talked to employers, who will get subsidies of £60 a week if they take on an unemployed youngster. This is what they thought

The options for job seekers

Find a job with an employer.

Full-time education or training for qualifications, leading to the chance of work.

Voluntary work. Charity organisations will also be offered subsidies to take on and train young people, including child care assistants.

Environmental work. The "environmental taskforce" will carry out projects such as cleaning parks and insulating homes.

AT 22, the only job Vicky Brettle has had is one month in telephone sales.

It is not through lack of trying. She has applied for more than 20 jobs.

"I think either lack of experience, or too much competition is the reason why I don't get jobs.

"I want to work. Being out of work is boring, and there is not enough money. When I was at school, I didn't think it would so difficult to get a job."

Vicky is disillusioned about her lack of success in getting work. She left Penketh High School with 10 GCSEs and one A level, in art and design.

"I would like to do something in computer graphics. That would be my first choice, but I would do anything," said Vicky.

She has done a pre vocational course, to develop confidence, communication skills, and career guidance and also has had work experience caring for the old and the young. Now she is moving on to an IT course.

Vicky gets benefits of £38. 90 a week, plus £10 training allowance while she is on her course.

Of the welfare to work options, Vicky said that if she doesn't get a job, her next choice would be more education or training.

Clare Hince, 19, of Orford, left Newman Catholic High School at 16, with five GCSEs.

She has not yet had a job. She did hairdressing training after leaving school, but didn't like it.

After that, she did training in care for the elderly and got a level two NVQ certificate. She is now doing level three. She has applied for 30 jobs, and had just two interviews.

"I want to work with old people. I hope level three will give me a better chance," said Clare.

She gets £77. 80 benefit plus £10 training allowance. Clare's welfare to work choice, if she fails to get a job, will be voluntary work.

Leanne England, 19, of Padgate, left Padgate High School at 16 with five GCSEs.

She has not so far had a job. "I have applied for so many, I can't remember," she said.

Leanne did a year's training scheme in a community centre.

She has done work placement with the elderly, and is now doing level two training in this type of care.

She has had about two years' time with little to do. She did voluntary work with special children, and still does this. She said she was very anxious to get a job, but if she couldn't, her welfare to work option would be education or training.

Jason Hogan, 18, of Padgate, has had work trials for five jobs, two as a mechanic, and others in warehousing.

He didn't get kept on, apart from one job, which he kept for seven months, in fibreglass laminating. "I don't like not being able to get work. I get fed up. I go to the gym a lot of the time," he said.

Jason is doing a course in warehousing, at NVQ level two. If he doesn't get a job when welfare to work comes in, he will opt for full time education.

Richard Hewitt Dutton, 19, of Grappenhall, has applied for about 20 jobs with no luck. He did a youth training scheme, linked with retail work, for two years, and since that ended, he has been unemployed for six months. He is doing an NVQ level one in business management.

Richard receives about £35 a week in benefits. "My goal is to get a job," he said. Failing that, he will opt for voluntary work.

Beverley Whitfield, training advisor with YMCA said : "Looking for a job is a full time job. Young people do want to work, but there are a lot of people applying for the jobs that are available."

Debra Carmen, adult trainer, said the welfare to work programme would give young people more direction and boost their morale.

David Briggs, managing director of Dawson's Music, Warrington, said: "I think it is a good initiative. It will encourage employers to take on young people. We have taken on a number of YTS people."

Whether young people remain in employment after the six months, would depend on the individual, he said.

Chris Hancock, a director of Hancock and Wood store, Warrington, said : "I think it would encourage us to take on an extra person. It would depend on the individual." He said that if the person was good, employment would be continued after the subsidy ended."We have had YT people before. About half of them stayed."

Sandra Brusby, director of Warrington Business Venture said : "I think the £60 will be an incentive. In my experience, where we have taken on youth training people, if they have the right background and the right experience, they are kept on. We have kept several on here. I hope welfare to work will be an incentive to employers."

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