THOUSANDS of young people from Wales’ poorest families believe they will achieve few or none of their goals in life, a new report has warned.

The study by The Prince’s Trust and RBS has highlighted a clear aspiration gap between the UK’s richest and poorest young people.

It shows howone in ten youngsters in Wales feel that “people like them don’t succeed in life”

and more than one in ten young people in Wales believe they will “end up in a dead-end job”.

The figures have also shown that one in eight feel they will “end up on benefits for at least part of their lives” and that more than one in five children are growing up belowthe poverty line.

Rick Libbey, director of youth charity The Prince’s Trust Cymru, said: “The aspiration gap between Wales’ richest and poorest young people is creating a ‘youth underclass’ – who tragically feel they have no future.

“We simply cannot ignore this inequality. The Prince’s Trust is helping the country’s most disadvantaged young people build the skills, self-esteem and aspirations they need to free themselves from a life of poverty and unemployment.”

The Trust aims to help 50,000 vulnerable young people this year, giving them the skills and confidence to find a job.