A PIONEERING project to help young people with transport problems is being set up by environmental charity WestDEN.

The charity's Ley of the Land project is to buy a fleet of 10 small engined trail bikes as part of a three-year scheme called Getting There, funded by a grant of more than £170,000 from the National Lottery Charities Board.

Ley of the Land helps find jobs and offers advice and training for young people in West Devon, but one of the barriers to success is the lack of transport for people in outlying areas.

Os Osborne, of WestDEN, said the grant would give 'a real boost' to young people in the area — the project would also prove a model for other rural districts in the country.

He said: 'There will always be an issue about access to transport for those living in isolated rural areas.

'We can either stand back and acknowledge the fact that many of our young people will have to leave at a time when there is a shortage of skilled labour, or we can try and do something to encourage them to stay.'

Mr Osborne said the bikes will be purchased or leased locally — they will then be leased out to young people WestDEN considers would benefit most from the transport.

As well as buying the bikes, Ley of the Land will also help with driving lessons and vehicle maintenance training.

'We already know of many people who will be keen to take advantage of the project,' said Mr Osborne.

Now WestDEN is looking for someone to help manage the project.

'We are looking for somebody who is community minded, who has real sympathy towards young people and who is prepared to be a bit innovative and imaginative — somebody with empathy and sensitivity to their needs,' said Mr Osborne.

The Getting There project was developed with help from West Devon Rural Transport Partnership, using inspiration from transport schemes already under way in Shropshire and Somerset.

Development officer Sonia Burgess, who played a key role in putting the successful Lottery bid together, said: 'It's a great project — I think the good thing is it could really have an impact.

'When you are dealing with young people in rural communities, transport is a real issue. It's quite a simple scheme, but I think it's good.'