Devizes Area Board has agreed to give £5,000 towards developing a mentoring project for young people with special educational needs or disabilities.

The project, being run in conjunction with Wiltshire Council, will offer help to young people leaving school to find employment.

Coun Simon Jacobs, chairman of the area board, said it was hoped to find employment for between two and four young people by September 1.

He said: “There are firms already willing and able to take on these people.

“They have special requirements and what they really need is mentoring and support in the first six to eight months.”

The new initiative follows on from a mentoring project set up between the area board and Devizes School last year which links sixth formers at the school with businesses to receive mentoring and advice on getting a job, doing an apprenticeship or going on to further education.