A national campaign to encourage more people to volunteer as mentors and befrienders is being tested in Worcester.

The city is one of four - the others are Lincoln, Carlisle and London - where volunteering charity TimeBank is running pilot scheme.

If successful, the project will go nationwide next year.

"Mentoring and befriending is a unique kind of volunteering that involves forming a one-to-one relationship with someone in need of support, guidance or companionship," explained Steve Leach, regional infrastructure development manager of the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation.

"Volunteers can help fill a gap in the life of someone who is socially isolated, perhaps because of ill health, disability or economic disadvantage. It's highly rewarding and increasingly popular, yet most people have never heard of it, or, if they have, do not think they have the right kind of skills or experience to do it. We hope this campaign will change that.

"Worcester was chosen to take part in the pilot scheme because of the high demand for volunteer mentors and befrienders in the city.

"This was because of the comparatively large number of such organisations locally and not because people are necessarily slow in coming forward. When you have vacancies in most of the organisations, the total soon adds up. A city with less schemes would have less vacancies."

Currently Worcester has vacancies in 13 volunteer organisations ranging from the Prince's Trust and Samaritans to BEN (the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund) and St Paul's Hostel.

The campaign, which will be promoted on the buses across Worcester throughout Nov-ember, has received the backing of Fame Academy mentor and TV personality Jeremy Milnes, who said: "Mentoring and befriending is an incredibly powerful vehicle for empowering people. Volunteering as a mentor or befriender is a valuable and worthwhile use of time, which is hugely appreciated by those receiving advice and support. People are often put off the idea of being a mentor or befriender by thinking 'What can I offer?' when, actually, they have years of experience and knowledge. I know from personal experience how the simple act of offering tips, advice and companionship to people, who may have had a tough time but want to get on in life, can be utterly life changing."

To find out about mentoring and befriending go to www. beme.org.uk, call 0845 601 4008 or text BEME to 07766 40 41 42.