COMMUNITY minded young people looking for a mission are being urged to sign up on a new enterprising scheme.

The Prince's Trust - Volunteers programme has launched its first scheme in the borough and is looking for young people aged from 16 to 25 to take part.

The 12-week long project is open to the unemployed without risk to benefits and the employed as long as they can get a secondment from their job.

Over the weeks the 15 volunteers will carry out a number of community projects in the Bolton area as a team and individually. Project co-ordinator, Phill Gatenby, believes the scheme is an excellent way for young people to learn new skills and boost their confidence.

He said: "The Prince's Trust - Volunteers programme has been running nationally for the past six and a half years, but this is the first time it has been held in Bolton.

"We want to encourage a mix of people to come forward to join the scheme that reflects the local community.

"We've already had enquiries from six men so we need more girls and people from the ethnic minorities." And as well as looking for volunteers the organisers are also seeking suitable community projects - from environmental clean-ups to painting murals.

The volunteers will tackle any task for local groups or organisations as long as it will take them a week or longer to complete.

The volunteers scheme consists of four phases - team building which includes a five day residential in the Lake District; the community project, an individual placement in a voluntary or community based organisation and a team challenge in which the group plans a project to directly benefit members of the community.

Phill said: "The volunteers get a great deal out of the scheme and it has an impressive success rate. "In 1995-96, 62 per cent of unemployed volunteers were able to get jobs or go into further education.

"And the course is absolutely free."

During the course all the volunteers work towards their First Aid Certificate, Essential Food and Hygiene Certificate and City and Guilds Profile of Achievement.

If you would like to join the Prince's Trust - Volunteers scheme, which is operated in Greater Manchester by the charitable youth work company First Youth, contact Phill Gatenby on 0161-273 7364 as soon as possible.

And if you would like to nominate a community project for the volunteers to tackle also contact Phill on the above number.

The course in Bolton will start on Tuesday, May 27.

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