VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help rehabilitate young offenders.

Most young offenders who plead guilty to a first offence are sentenced to a referral order of between three months and a year, depending on the seriousness of the offence.

They appear before a community panel, which includes two members who are volunteers from the local community.

A contract is drawn up to tackle the young person's offending behaviour to prevent re-offending and to integrating the young person back into the community.

Community panel members must be 18 or older.

The panel should be representative of the local community and include all ethnic and social backgrounds. Full training is given.

For more information on becoming a panel member, contact Barry Graham, operations manager for North Yorkshire youth offending team, on (01723) 341367.