A SCHEME aiming to give 120,000 young people the best possible start in life has been launched.

The Young People's Plan is the culmination of a major consultation exercise and has taken six months to write.

The 140-page document sets out aims and objectives for the next three years to give a variety of different organisations guidance on how best to help young people.

It has been put together by the North Yorkshire Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership.

Members include county and district councillors, schools, police, the Probation Service, Youth Offending Teams, the voluntary and community sectors, the Learning and Skills Council, Connexions and primary care trusts.

The project is the county's response to the Government initiative Every Child Matters, to cater for young people from birth to 19, and in cases of special needs to 25.

The plan provides for each of North Yorkshire's 120,000 young people, including 84,000 schoolchildren, more than 12,000 children with special needs, ethnic minorities, lone parent families and those on the child protection register.

It aims to make sure children are healthy, safe, able to enjoy themselves and achieve - and that they are provided with the opportunity to make a positive contribution to society.

Caroline Patmore, the county council's executive member for children's services, said: "This is a tremendously exciting time for young people, who are, after all, this county's future.

"Never have all the agencies that work with young people had such common purpose. By signing this plan we have committed our efforts to the young people of North Yorkshire."

Under the plan, North Yorkshire will be split into 22 localities, from which all the necessary children's services will be delivered.

"This should ensure that services are more accessible than ever before, whether you live in one of the county's towns, cities, or rural areas," said Councillor Patmore.

John Marsden the county council's chief executive, said: "This marks an important transition from where we were to where we are now. It's a crucial stepping stone."

Peter Simpson, chief executive of Hambleton District Council, said: "We all now need to sharpen our focus so this all fits together."