FOR MANY the New Year brings hope and the chance for new beginnings but a report out today warns that young people in Hampshire are struggling more than ever to cope.

Latest figures released today by the Prince’s Trust reveal that as many as one in eight young people in the county – 13 per cent – feel they cannot cope with dayto- day life.

Other worrying statistics show that one in four young people living in Hampshire believes their prospects have been “permanently damaged” by the recession, while 28 per cent grew up not having someone to talk to about their problems and 19 per cent feel they have not future due to the economy.

The Youth Index report – based on interviews with 2,136 16 to 25-year-olds across the UK – highlights how those who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs) are significantly more likely to feel unable to cope than their peers.

Also 35 per cent of Hampshire’s young people feel down or depressed “always” or “often”, a figure that soars to 48 per cent among NEETs.

The research comes at a time when long-term unemployment is on the rise with a 252 per cent increase since the beginning of the recession.

The Prince’s Trust is one organisation working to help these young people, like Crystle Kinch, from the New Forest, who was able to turn her life around thanks to their training courses.

After being excluded from school without any qualifications, Crystle found herself without a job and two young children to provide for at the age of 22.

But thanks to the Prince’s Trust Get into Youth Work programme and a lot of hard work she completed the course and has a full-time job using her experiences to help young people.

She said: “Life has never been so good for me. I had a really tough time trying to find work so I know what it’s like for many young people out there at the moment. I’ve seen some really difficult times but – thanks to The Prince’s Trust – I have a great future ahead of me.”

Last year, The Prince’s Trust worked with more than 7,400 disadvantaged young people across London and the south east giving them the skills, confidence and motivation to move into the workplace.

Dermot Finch, regional director of The Prince’s Trust in the south of England, said: “A frightening number of unemployed young people in Hampshire feel unable to cope – and it is particularly tough for those who don’t have a support network in place.

“Life can become a demoralising downward spiral – from a challenging childhood into life as a jobless adult. But, with the right support, we can help get these lives on track across Hampshire.”