AROUND 80 jobs will be created  at a  city charity thanks to government funding.

Devon County Council has  successfully secured around  £2m from the Future Jobs Fund  for the posts.

In total, up to 157 jobs for 18 to  24-year-olds will be created in  Devon and Torbay. It is hoped  they will go some way to  counter rising youth unemployment in the county, which increased recently from 3,345 to  3,410, a 1.9 per cent rise.

St Loye’s Enterprises will employ 80 people over the next 12  months for ventures including a  visitors’ centre in partnership  with Otter Nurseries,  a cafe for a  multi-cultural community  centre,  a gardening services project  and an online database.

St Loye’s senior manager Sid  Humphries  said: “All our projects have been helping people  and have sustainability at their  heart.

“We are looking to expand the  services beyond the duration of  the Future Jobs Fund award  and our aim is that they should  create continuous employment  through becoming self-funding.  We are investing heavily in the  start up of these projects.

“The gardening services  could provide permanent work  or self-employment, and we  have already taken on a  full-time staff member for the  online system, and hope to be  able to expand.

“Two of our original intake  have already found permanent  work elsewhere.

“We know that this funding  can change lives.”

Devon firm Groundwork  South West helped with the bid  and will be employing  young  people in environmental  schemes across the county.

Councillor William Mumford, county council cabinet  member for economy, regeneration and strategic planning,  said: “It is vital to the future of  our economy that we ensure  our young people have the  skills and training they need to  compete in today’s world.

“It is not acceptable that we  leave our 18 to 24-year-olds  without work.

“Working in partnership  across the public and third sectors means that we create local  jobs where they are needed,  helping our communities, our  young people and the Devon  economy.”

The Future Jobs Fund is run  by the Department of Work and  Pensions in partnership with  the Department for Communities and Local Government.

It was set up to create 170,000  jobs for young people aged  between 18 and 24 who have  been out of work for 12 months,  and is part of the Young Person’s Guarantee.

 Launched in January, the  YPG promises  a job, training or  work experience to young  people who have been receiving   Jobseeker’s Allowance for six  months.