The young people of Macclesfield are crying out for jobs but employers just aren’t listening, according to local teenagers.

Gathered around at table at King Edward Street’s Sovereign House, Josh Hall, Lorraine Hall, Lacey Baker, and Steph Bracegirdle, have all been job hunting for at least a year.

They are all regular users of Total People, a work-based learning centre which works with people of all ages on government-funded learning programmes, from foundation programmes to advanced apprenticeships.

The government gives grants to young people who complete the courses, but, say the group, the onus remains on employers to give them a chance.

Lacey, 18, left her family home in Essex when she was 16 and now lives on her own with her two German shepherds. She’d like to work with animals.

“It can be hard but I’ve got my flat nice. I like having my own space.

“I get government money but I’d much rather have a job and my own independence. It’s just so hard getting hired.

“We haven’t got the experience because nobody will give it to us. That’s the whole problem. There are hardly any apprenticeships in Macclesfield. The more we sit at home we aren’t going to get a job – even when we have the enthusiasm, the opportunities aren’t there.”

She’s honest about her reasons for coming to Total People. “I need the money I get – £106 every two weeks for coming here. I have to look after myself so I need the cash.”

The group agrees the main problems are lack of experience and not enough feedback from firms who turn them down.

Josh, 16, who lives with his parents in Tytherington, has completed a range of certificate courses, including health and safety and first aid.

He says he sends off his CV every week for music technology jobs – but employers don’t get back to him.

“We just don’t get the feedback about where we’ve gone wrong. Often we don’t even get a reply. I feel a bit under-rated. They look at me like I’m just a kid off the street.

“And they all say you need experience but how are we supposed to get that?

“Some young people are just lazy – but I don’t think we’re like that. We’re really trying.”

Steph Bracegirdle, 17, of The Moss, is a youth leader for Cre8 on the estate, a social enterprise project set up to help young people. The former Tytherington High pupil has an NVQ 2 in childcare.

She said: “I really enjoy working at Cre8. We’ve got a recording studio now so people can come and play.

“I’d like to work full-time with young people but there are only about three nurseries in Macclesfield and none of them are recruiting at the moment.”

She says young people also struggle with the way they are perceived in Macclesfield. “If we walk along in groups of more than three, people look at us like we’re thugs.”

Lorraine Hall, 18, of the Moss estate, a former Macclesfield High pupil, wants to work with animals. She had to leave an equine course in Nantwich when she fell off a horse and broke her wrist.

She said: “I was travelling 50 miles a day but I enjoyed it. I’ve been looking for work for a year”.

Adrian Chadwick, 32, group leader and marketing manager, said: “Over the last 18 months I’ve seen a real lack of opportunities. There just aren’t enough apprenticeships to help young people who might not have lots of qualifications or experience.