AN AMBITIOUS businessman has launched a project to help young people who feel 'failed' by the education system.

John Campbell-Muir, aged 52, and from Evesham, has set up a scheme titled 'Training the Future' which he hopes will help youngsters into work – and avoid a life of crime.

The project will teach young people to care for their community, through activities including litter picks, growing vegetables for the foodbank, and clearing fly tipping.

Mr Campbell-Muir – who runs landscaping business Muirs of Evesham – hopes to work with the council, courts and probation service, while also teaching young people basic 'life-skills' including how to set up a bank account.

Writing on the 'Training the Future' Facebook page, Mr Campbell-Muir said: "I started hearing on the news that 20 per cent of the kids today are being failed by our education system. So I feel it is time, we as a community, did something about it.

"I found out after speaking to them the overwhelming answer was they feel the system is letting them down.

"The second thing I found the jobs that were available to low achievers when I was a kid were no longer there.

"The third thing I noticed was the rise in crime and sadly feel that these are linked.

"This angered me, but instead of sitting there and moaning, I thought what I can do about it. What I feel is, we really have only one chance with these kids, which is to catch them young enough."

Mr Campbell-Muir already employs four apprenticeships at his business, working with colleges to give train them for a career.

He hopes the project's new 'training school' – called The Yard – will help prepare youngsters for a life of work, while benefitting the whole community.

And he has already set up a community group, with a committee of 10 members, to help drive the project forward.

For more information visit facebook.com and search 'Training the Future'.