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Government provides funds to employers who recruit young people with disabilities

The Government has launched a wage incentive scheme to encourage employers to give young disabled people further work opportunities

A payment of up to £2,275 will be made available for employers who recruit young disabled people through Work Choice - a specialist disability employment programme that provides tailored support to help disabled people who have the most complex support needs.

This extra support for young disabled people will sit alongside the recently launched Youth Contract, which is already boosting the employment prospects of this country's young jobseekers.

Minister for disabled people, Maria Miller (pictured) said: "In a tough economic climate, addressing youth unemployment is a key priority for this Government. Through this wage incentive we are encouraging employers to hire more young disabled people by providing some money ourselves.

"By creating a partnership between Government and the employer, it will give more young disabled people the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in the workplace, so that the employer will keep that young person on beyond the six months of the subsidy."

The new wage incentive will be made available in July.