HUNDREDS more young people in the region will be helped to set up businesses thanks to £1.2m of European funding.
The Prince's Trust Youth Enterprise Business support, and Support for Grants projects in the North-East have been awarded the money from the European Regional Development Fund.
The grant will help the charity build on work that has already helped more than 450 young people in the region aged between 18 and 30 during the past year, with a package of financial assistance worth nearly £1m.
All those helped are unemployed or "under employed", and had been unable to raise the funding they needed from other sources.
The range of businesses helped is diverse, ranging from magicians to dry-stone wallers.
Information technology and web design businesses have also benefited.
For more information on Prince's Trust loans, call (0800) 842-842.
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