HALF a million pounds seized from criminals will go towards a project to boost the skills of young unemployed people.

The charity Action for Children will use the funding from CashBack for Communities to prepare around 160 youngsters for work in the construction industry. The money has been recovered through Proceeds of Crime legislation.

Paul Carberry, director of Service Development at Action for Children Scotland, said: "We work with some of the most vulnerable young people in society, young people who have left school with no qualifications, are unemployed, and who lack the confidence and motivation to find work. The CashBack for Communities funding will enable us to work with larger numbers, giving young people the tools to build a better future and helping to tackle youth unemployment."