John Key

Wellington, June 4 NZPA - Unemployed young people looking for direction and discipline will get the opportunity to challenge themselves on a new Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) course at Hobsonville, Prime Minister John Key says.

Mr Key today launched the course, the first for the upper North Island, which is aimed primarily at unemployed people between 18 and 25.

"The focus on discipline, motivation, respect and self-confidence means these young people come out of the course with the skills to obtain jobs and the focus to build more positive lives for themselves," Mr Key said.

The LSV courses have been running for 17 years with the main aim of preparing young people for work.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said success stories coming out of the LSV programme prompted the Government to expand it, funding an additional 1250 places as part of the Youth Opportunities package released last August.

"We're investing $19.1 million of new funding into LSV courses, putting more than 1900 young people through each year," she said.

Before the addition of the Hobsonville course, 720 LSV places were available at the Burnham military base.

An additional course started in Wellington in May.

The LSV programme is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Social Development and the Defence Force.

Work and Income and the Defence Force work with local employers to match LSV graduates with jobs when they complete the courses.