Up to five young disabled people will be helped into work in the pilot stage of a jobs scheme being championed in Redbridge.

Redbridge Council, disability charity the Interface Parent Forum and Connexions, with the support of Ilford North MP Lee Scott, are developing the programme which should start at the end of this month.

External funding is being sought to allow the project to be formally launched in April and to allow an additional 20 young people to be targeted before April 2014.

Young school leavers with learning difficulties or physical disabilities will be matched with employers, who will pay their salaries, and a Redbridge Council spokesman said companies will have access to disability awareness training.

He added: “Each young person will have a nominated ‘buddy’ in their workplace and this person will be offered training to ensure that they are aware of issues in relation to disability and learning difficulties and that they meet and network with other business buddies across Redbridge.”

Mr Scott said: “I will be speaking to many more buisness over coming weeks and hope to continue to get further jobs for these great young people.”