YOUNG Scots who have been hardest hit by long-term unemployment are to be given a new chance of finding work through an #18m initiative launched yesterday.

Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar said the New Futures Fund would give hope to those previously ''written off from the labour market'' including drug addicts, alcoholics, the homeless, those with convictions and people with learning difficulties.

The scheme, which is unique to Scotland, will target some 7000 unemployed aged between 16 and 35 who are judged to be almost unemployable and therefore unable to benefit from the Government's New Deal programme.

Speaking at the launch of the new initiative at the Right Track charity in Easterhouse, which works with the young jobless, Mr Dewar said: ''We are going to tackle the hardest cases of unemployment . . . all those who have been left behind by society and given up hope. It is our challenge and crusade to equip them for the world of work.

''These people need special help. We need to go out there and attract their interest, harness their energy, and bring back their enthusiasm. This is a daunting challenge but one we are determined to overcome.''

The money, #10m from the Scottish Office and #8m from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, will be used over the next three years to provide literacy and numeracy courses, counselling, and training for young people in back-to-work and life skills.

It will also help provide people with work placements and get them involved in activities which will put them on the right road to the New Deal strategy.

Mr Dewar also confirmed that, as revealed in The Herald yesterday, Scottish Ministers were working on a new approach to dealing with jobless budding musicians and artists.

The ''creative industries'' welfare to work option would allow young people to continue learning their craft rather than lose their dole money, have to go back to college, or take a job.

Although still in its planning stages, Mr Dewar said Ministers would be meeting with interested parties including music industry representatives at a workshop next month. One of the details to be discussed at that meeting will be how the Government can effectively monitor and ensure that all those wishing to claim dole while following their creative lifestyles are genuine would-be artists.

After yesterday's launch, Mr Dewar went on a walkabout to meet young people on various Right Track courses.

The charity has been working for the past 15 years with hundreds of young people throughout greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Falkirk, who have been worst hit by unemployment.

The new three-year initiative will be administered by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in conjunction with a wide range of public, private, and voluntary sector groups throughout Scotland.

This year, it will be run in pilot schemes in Caithness, Ayrshire, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Lanarkshire.