too old

I found it really hard to find work initially and I ended up setting up my own business. If you can't find a job doing youth work then start doing it in your spare time and find any old job in the mean time. It is easier to get work when you are working and employers love people who use their imagination to get started.

Send CVs to companies that aren't advertising and follow them up with a phonecall and keep yourself busy. Be willing to accept anything (well, within reason) even if it isn't initially paid, obviously this is only possible if you're living at home. By the way, you can get voluntary workers allowance if you work over a certain number of hours each week - ask the Job centre for information.

Hope this helps, I know this advice is kinda cliched and may not - but feel free to ring the Office if you need to speak to someone.