A NEW council initiative is aiming to get 300 residents in training and create nearly 150 new jobs.

The Community Gold project, is being funded by £340,000 from the London Development Agency, will offer work experience, employment trials and volunteering, as well as one-to-one guidance and advice for jobseekers across the borough.

People identified as being disadvantaged in the job market will be given extra help throughout the project, including council and housing association tenants who have been unemployed in the long-term, lone parents, young people, and disabled residents.

The Orchard Estate in Woodford Green is one the estates being targeting in the scheme, along with the several areas in Ilford.

For more information, call Rikki Lempert on 020 8708 2538.