IT IS no secret that young people have borne the brunt of this recession.

More than one in seven (14 per cent) of young people living in the south east of England are now on the dole - that's about 89,600 16- to 24-year-olds.

But it is all too easy to dismiss these young people as a 'lost generation'.

Each one of them has skills and talents that could make a real difference to this country.

The alarming new report from The Prince's Trust and the Citi Foundation reveals that the south east could lose thousands of vital workers - nurses, teachers, doctors and social workers - if we fail to help young people find jobs.

Young people are not only struggling to fulfil their ambitions - nearly 15,000 living in our region are also missing out on necessities such as food and heating.

More than 30,000 fear they will never have enough money to provide for themselves or their children.

We can't afford to stifle these young talents now, particularly as we emerge from the longest recession on record.

Those with fewest qualifications need our support the most, as they struggle to compete with unemployed graduates flooding the jobs market.

Only by investing in these young people now can we ensure this undiscovered generation isn't lost forever.

ROSEMARY WATT-WYNESS

Regional Director for The Prince's Trust in the South East 18 Park Square East NW1 4LH