A MENTORING scheme to help vulnerable Worcester teenagers is being extended to Droitwich.

The Worcester Mentoring Project is being expanded thanks to grants of more than £100,000 which were handed out last year from the Home Office and European Social Fund.

The scheme matches teenagers who have problems ranging from bullying, to family matters and crime, with adults who they meet once a week and chat to.

When it was first set up in 1997, it only had six youngsters and mentors on its books, but has now become so effective it has the facility to help 72 people.

Now bosses of the scheme need to attract more volunteers and six co-ordinators to cope with the increased demand and help the initiative run until November 2004.

"The scheme provides young people with problems with a mature adult relationship on a one-to-one basis, with someone who can relate to them without being affected by peer pressure," said project organiser Jim Allsopp.

"It's a confidential relationship between the young person and a normal adult whose only interest is to share their life.

"We hope the young people gain self-esteem and confidence through building up a relationship with an adult."

Volunteers can be anyone between 20 and 65, from any walk of life.

Each volunteer has to go through a formal interview process and police check, and are given a 10-hour induction before they start work.

They will be dealing with one 14 to 17-year-old, who they will meet once a week for two hours.

Each youngster is referred to the scheme by either their headteacher, youth offending team, police, social services, or the education department.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Jim Allsopp on 01905 830746.