Hunslet and Middleton Community Involvement Team has backed plans which will see New Deal trainees working to improve the local environment and assist the elderly and disabled over the next 16 months.

The CIT has agreed to give £5,000 funding to the project, which will see the trainees becoming part of an Environment Task Team which will clean rubbish from targeted communal areas in Middleton, Belle Isle and parts of Hunslet.

The team will also tidy gardens of elderly and disabled residents, as well as clearing gardens and pathways of empty properties. They will take part in monthly community clean-ups, as well as carrying out basic improvements to properties such as painting and decorating.

Managed by Leeds South Homes, the project will see the unemployed New Deal trainees recruited and given training to also promote ideas to residents to improve the environment within the area.

Board director of Leeds South Homes Councillor Stuart Bruce (Labour, Middleton) said: “This is a great idea which will be of major benefit to the whole community. Not only will the environment look better, it also will help the New Deal trainees to learn new skills at the same time which could lead to them finding long-term jobs and careers.

“Helping the more vulnerable members of the community is also a wonderful idea, and by promoting the importance of the environment to residents and especially youngsters it will hopefully make a major difference in these areas for the future.”