WITHINS High School celebrated the success of its Mentoring programme with a meal at Smithills Coaching House.

Mentors and "mentees" -- young people who receive guidance and support from the adults involved -- marked the final year of the programme which was funded by the Government's Single Regeneration Budget 4 programme. It was co-ordinated by the Bolton and Bury Education Business Partnership.

Co-ordinator Heather Ogden said: "It was a very enjoyable event.

"The mentors and mentees were away from their usual environment as the meetings are normally one to one and carried out in school during the day."

She said it was obvious that a lot of the young people had grown in confidence and self-esteem during the programme.

Although the SRB4 funding has finished, the mentoring programme will continue.

Organisers hope it will grow with the help of other adults from industry and the community. The mentoring scheme operates with Bolton and Bury schoolchildren aged between 11 and 16.

Adults are on hand to provide consistent support, guidance and practical help as a young person goes through a difficult or challenging period in life. Anybody with an hour a month to spare as a mentor is asked to contact Heather Ogden at the EBP -- 01204 374623.