With more than one million 18 to 24-year-olds now unemployed nationally, the Streatham Guardian has been following the fortunes of young people on their journey to find a job.

Carmelo Camenzuli, 22, has GCSEs, A-levels and two years’ experience working in a bar.

He has been unemployed for two months, and has still not had luck on the jobs market.

He said: "I’ve been applying for at least three jobs a day, and still haven’t managed to find anything.

"The good news is I went to a meeting at the job centre, and found out about an administration apprenticeship, which I will hopefully start this week.

"When I sign on I’ll find out more about it, and fingers crossed.

"It pays £100 a week, so it is definitely worth it."

Tola Akinwunmi, 26, has been unemployed for nine months.

"With GCSEs, and a background in sales and as a nursery assistant, she is a strong candidate for a number of jobs.

Since speaking to the paper last month, she has enrolled on to a travel and tourism course.

She said: "After I last spoke to the Streatham Guardian I decided to just go for it and apply. It is going really well.

"The job hunting isn’t going great, as I’m still looking.

College is keeping me busy, and, hopefully, I’ll get a job in the travel industry when I finish."

She remains positive about the future. She said: "This course will help me realise my dreams.

"I really feel much better about my prospects now."