THOUSANDS of young school-leavers will now be looking to venture into the big wide world of work.

At what should be an exciting time full of opportunity, many will instead face the harsh reality of today's economic climate.

Hull was recently revealed to have suffered the highest rate of youth unemployment in the UK.

Almost one-in-10 under-25s was claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in May, compared with the national average of 5.7 per cent.

Disadvantaged youngsters – those who have been in care, have struggled at school or have been in trouble with the law – face an even tougher struggle.

This is something youth charity The Prince's Trust is working to tackle.

As part of the Mail's Bounce Back campaign, we aim to highlight such important schemes in our fight to help the region back on its feet.

The trust says the rise in youth unemployment has cost the city's economy more than £200,000 per week.

Syed Ali, 25, from Beverley Road, Hull, has been jobless for eight months since the insurance company he worked for went bust.

The limited opportunities out there, he feels, is a problem made worse by his low levels of qualifications.

He said: "The months have gone by and I was still signing on. I had practically given up looking for a job because I was getting nowhere.

"I left school and chose to work to earn money rather study further which in hindsight I wish I hadn't. It's a real knock to your confidence and self-esteem."

Now Syed, whose ambition is to be a football coach, has decided to focus on improving his skills.

After undertaking a personal development course with The Prince's Trust – which aims to build confidence, motivation and personal skills – Syed last week joined 12 other young unemployed people taking part in a week-long scheme at the KC Stadium.

Backed by The Prince's Trust and funded by the Premier League, the Football Foundation and the Professional Footballers' Association, it aims to inspire young people to get them back into employment.

Syed is now not only striving to help himself, through working towards a professional coaching qualification , but is helping others through setting up a football team and community centre.

He said: "I've had a really good grounding in many aspects of coaching. Now I am not just finding a job but working towards a career I enjoy.

"I believe there needs to be more out there for young people to keep them off the streets."

The football course is one of a number of Get Started programmes run by the Trust in Hull, including Get Into Construction and Get Into Customer Services.

These projects have offered an intensive week of training and experience to help boost youngsters' prospects.

It's Get Into Retail course, run in partnership with St Stephen's shopping centre, will begin again in September.

There are young people whose problems begin well before they have left the classroom.

Sixteen-year-old Matthew Jones is one of the 171 pupils who are at risk of playing truant or suffering underachievement in Hull which the trust helped last year through the xl club.

Matthew, of north Hull, has been excluded from a number of schools for threatening staff and causing criminal damage.

But since attending Sir Henry Cooper School's specialist off-site centre and the trust's in-school club, the teenager has turned his life around.

His attendance rose to 98 per cent in Year 10 compared to just 56 per cent the previous year.

He says: "I was encouraged to take part in community projects and activities which improved my social skills.

"We went on trips out. I enjoyed them so much I mowed lawns for extra cash to fund the trips, which taught me responsibility."

Matthew has now been nominated for an achievement award after completing his GCSE coursework and passing his Adult Numeracy and Literacy Level 1 and a silver award from The Prince's Trust.

He says: "Perhaps not believing in myself led me to getting into trouble.

"But now I've had one-to-one support, in smaller groups, with teachers who understand that.

"Now I hope to study maths and English at Wyke College in September."

The Trust is also working in partnerships with Endeavour High School, Goodwin Development Trust, Hull College and Oakfield School.

Other schemes run by the charity include its Development Awards – grants to help young people tackle barriers to success.

The awards, ranging from £50 to £500, can help towards childcare, travel expenses, clothes or training fees.

The trust also handed out Community Cash Awards totalling more than £16,000 to 10 groups of youngsters in Hull last year so that they could manage a project to benefit the wider community while enhancing their own development.