IT may seem a small step but two young people from Newport who have both been out of work for many months are now benefiting from a scheme to get them working.

At the launch of the Newport Future Jobs Fund yesterday Fran Compton and Stuart Stone both extolled the virtues of the scheme which has helped them get a foot on the career ladder.

They have been helped by a £3m fund which will enable those who have been out of work for 12 months to be taken on in a work environment for six months.

The jobs may prove to be temporary but it is hoped that the real work experience the young people get and the skills they acquire will send them well on their way to getting a full-time job.

The idea is a government one to try to tackle the increasing levels of unemployment among young people.

Newport council bid, and was successful, for a share of a £1billion national fund to be able to take part.

The council itself will take on an extra 170 workers with voluntary and private sectors also invited to take part.

This surely has to be money well-spent.

Youth unemployment is at risk of spiralling out of control and without direct action such as this then so many young people would face a bleak future.

For Miss Compton and Mr Stone it is a real life-line which ends months of unemployment.