In the Yorkshire and Humber region, the number of young people trapped on benefits for more than a year has hit a 12-year high – increasing more than six-fold since before the recession.

These are more than just numbers; they represent thousands of wasted lives, many of whom have little or no hope for the future as the country faces cuts and further job losses. Our report, The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index, shows that unemployment can go hand-in-hand with significant emotional stress. We know that the longer young people are jobless, the greater the risk to their mental health.

Failing to step in and help these young people now will create longer-term problems, which will affect young people and their families in the future.

More than three-quarters of the 3,500 young people supported by The Prince’s Trust in the Yorkshire and Humber region last year moved into work, education or training.

The efforts of charitable organisations like The Prince’s Trust, working with the local authorities, the business community and individual fundraisers, will play a key role in offering hope in 2011 to a generation of young people who think this year will have nothing to offer.

Samantha Kennedy, acting regional director, The Prince’s Trust, Yorkshire and The Humber, 1st Floor (South Wing), Wade House, The Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8NG