Staff at South Tyneside Youth Action Volunteers, based at The Cave in Captain's Row, South Shields, are celebrating today after getting cash from the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities programme.

Bosses said the grant is a lifeline for the organisation, which faced closure within six months because of a cash shortage.

The money will be used to help young people aged 13 to 19 get ready for the world of work.

Young parents up to the age of 25 are also targeted by the group.

The three staff also work with children excluded from school, run numeracy and literacy courses, a Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and organise youth achievement awards, helping in the process between 70 and 100 youngsters every year.

Today Lynn Renwick, project co-ordinator, said: "We haven't had any new grant funding since July last year and we were surviving on our resources. This really is a godsend as we could only have went on for about another six months.

"We had Lottery funding from July 2006 to July last year, but have had nothing since. This news couldn't have come at a better time."

The youth group was established in 1984 and has operated out of The Cave for the last five years.

Young people also have opportunities to learn about healthier eating, budgeting and anger management.