Summer projects designed to assist school-leavers into the world of work have received a cash boost from the National Lottery.

The New Opportunities Fund will donate £38.75 million to the schemes which link residential activities to local employers and training providers in a bid to provide help with CV writing, interview skills and work experience.

The pilot schemes form part of the £11million initiative launched last year by the government.

Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, welcomed the funding announcement. "The New Opportunities fund puts National Lottery money where lottery players want it to go: supporting education, health and the environment. These projects will make a real difference to peoples lives," she said.

The pilot projects were operated by the DES which managed them under the pupil health and safety team and the local partnerships involving local business and education authorities.

The Activities for Young People grant scheme is one of six grant-making programmes, which in total spend worth £1.5 billion, designed to offer financial support for policymakers in education, health and the environment.