A SPECIAL plea has been made for people to come forward to help give the young a better chance in life.

Young Shropshire in Work based at the Foyer in Ludlow is looking for older people prepared to act as mentors to the young.

People aged between 16 and 24 are twice as likely to be out of work as their elders.

Young Shropshire in Work is urgently seeking people from Ludlow and the surrounding areas who think they may have the skills to be a good mentor.

It is is a charity set up by John Aitken, a former Mayor of Ludlow in 2012, to provide support to young people between the ages of 16 to 25 in the Ludlow area trying to find employment for the first time, or after a period of unemployment.

Young people in this position may need support in a number of ways, from the practical, such as writing a cv or interview skills, and being given independent and impartial advice on a range of problems.

“Living in lovely Ludlow, it is easy to be complacent; it looks, and it is, a great place to live for those whose lives are worked out,” said Sue Chandler from the charity.

“But there is another side. If you are young and unemployed, a rural market town, however attractive, can be difficult when you need to find work or training, the opportunities may be fewer than in a city or larger town, and travel to somewhere where there may be a job, even as close as Shrewsbury or Telford, can be a significant hurdle.”

Some of the young people the charity work with have missed out on the help and support their more fortunate peers have received when it comes to looking for employment, whether that comes from family members or professionals in education.

“We’re not looking for specific skills or experience,” added Sue Chandler.

“The first requirement is that the person should be able to be a role model, for the person they are mentoring, the qualities that are valued in work, such as responsibility and reliability.”

A mentor needs to demonstrate these qualities in their relationship with the person they are helping. It may be the first time the person being mentored has had experience of someone who sticks to an appointment, has done what they said they would do, and who is then prepared to listen, and offer clear, thoughtful advice.

Mentoring relationships are confidential and while people may be guarded at first, once trust has been established, people often open up.

A major part of the task of a mentor is to build trust.

There is training for mentors and they are well supported. There is an evening forum meeting every three months for mentors to meet and discuss the issues that come up, while respecting the confidentiality of the mentoring relationship.

For more information contact Helen Vaughan, telephone 01588 676220, or email: Helen.Vaughan@ss-ha.org.uk or YoungShropshireinWork@sshropsha.co.uk