The government has pledged to create up to 47,000 new jobs, including sports coaching positions and roles in the green sector, for young people and the long-term unemployed.

Work and pensions secretary Yvette Cooper said that 117 bidders have already been given the green light to receive funding from the £1bn Future Jobs Fund, which is available to local authorities and other organisations in order to create around 150,000 new jobs. The fund will also contribute towards the new Backing Young Britain campaign launched by Cooper along with business secretary Peter Mandelson, schools secretary Ed Balls and communities secretary John Denham on 29 July.

Cooper said: "We are determined not to lose a generation of talent as has happened in the past because of the global recession. This is why we are announcing 47,000 new jobs for young people today. "And - with business and charities - the government is launching a national call to action to our fellow employers to join us in Backing Young Britain - to give every young person a job, training place, skills or work experience."

An additional £40m has been made available to boost the Backing Young Britain campaign in a bid to fund more than 20,000 internships for young people to obtain higher quality work experience, as well as a new employment mentoring network.