UNEMPLOYED teenagers in three work-deprived areas of Glasgow are being thrown a jobs lifeline.

Housing bosses in Arden are to help tackle youth unemployment in the city by offering work placements to 60 young people.

Glen Oaks Housing Association plans to take on jobless teenagers from Arden, Darnley and Cartloch for a two-year scheme that will see firms introduce school leavers to the world of work.

A number of businesses, from kennels to restaurants, have already offered placements to a handful of youngsters and Glen Oaks bosses want to attract more employers.

Under the scheme, teenagers will be placed with the WorkingRite charity.

They will be paid £55 a week, but that will increase to £90 whenever they are on work placement, with the employer paying them an extra £1 an hour.

Thousands of pounds are being spent on the scheme by Glen Oaks and a number of employers, although the Scottish Government has agreed an allocation of £176,188.

Alasdair McKee, Glen Oaks chief executive, said: "This initiative is helping to tackle youth unemployment, which we know from the communities we serve is a major issue that causes real concern."

Firms backing the initiative include Barrhead Autos, Levernbank Kennels and Houston Home Letting, as well as the Skinny Malinkys restaurant, Clarkston.

Scotland's Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said: "This is fantastic news for teenagers in Arden, Darnley and Cartloch.

"I congratulate Glen Oaks Housing Association and WorkingRite for getting this project off the ground.

"This initiative is a great example of how public bodies, the voluntary sector and the Scottish Government can work together to create more employment opportunities."

WorkingRite operates seven similar schemes across Scotland, with three quarters of all trainees landing a full time job or securing an apprenticeship.

Sandy Campbell, founder and chief executive, said the aim was "sustainable employment" for unemployed teenagers in the three city areas.

Mr Campbell also said the scheme would benefit the "wider community".

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk

By GORDON THOMSON