A TRAVEL scheme which helps young people living in rural Richmondshire access work and learning opportunities has received a £5,000 cash boost.

The moped loan scheme, Wheels to Work (W2W), has been awarded a grant from Richmondshire District Council’s service improvement fund.

The scheme – which has been operating in the district for the last 13 years - provides mainly young people with transport to access employment opportunities, apprenticeships and other work related training. Mopeds are loaned for a nominal six month period to people with no or little access to public or private transport.

So far it has helped more than 1,000 young people - and subsequently seen nearly 90 per cent of them leave the scheme with a job, apprenticeship or training place.

“Half the grant will go towards paying for the servicing and maintenance of the fleet of mopeds,” said Kevin Holt, development officer for W2W.

“And the other £2,500 will go towards paying for a co-ordinator for the scheme to help mentor the young people on basic topics such as opening a bank account, obtaining a provisional driving licence, encouraging them to save for a vehicle of their own, simple moped maintenance and signposting them to other support services that help young people make the transition to independence.”

For more information about the scheme contact Keith McDonnell on or w2w@ndvsa.co.uk