AN organisation for young people has been awarded £100,000 of National Lottery cash.

Cleveland Youth Association received the money in the latest round of awards announced by the Community Fund.

It will be put towards its justice support project, which targets young offenders or those at risk of offending.

The group intervenes at the earliest signs of problems and guides the youngsters in addressing their problems, helping them and their parents or carers to make positive changes which will hopefully lead to better long-term prospects.

Project coordinator Lynne Larner said: "This grant will allow two justice support services to continue until 2006.

"The services, which support troubled young people and their parents, have, thanks to the Community Fund, been operating throughout Teesside since 2000 and have helped many disadvantaged youngsters get away from a life of crime and social exclusion.

"The new grant will make sure that around 300 more very vulnerable youngsters and their families receive crucial support and that the project can continue to deliver its free, nationally accredited training of local people as volunteer visitors."

The project involves police, social services and the prison service to identify those who could benefit from help.

The grant is one of 15 awarded to North-East groups totalling nearly £1.6m.