A SCHEME run by a children's charity to help truants and young offenders has been launched in Hartlepool and is proving successful.

The mentoring and parenting scheme is run by Barnado's Hartbeat project and has recruited 20 volunteers, of all ages and backgrounds, to train to work with youngsters aged ten to 17 for six-month periods.

The aim is to give youngsters advice and support in making changes in their lives.

Work is carried out with youngsters who have either been involved in crime or who are persistent truants.

The statutory Hartlepool youth offending team refers clients to the scheme, which is in its fourth week and shows some progress with the attitudes and behaviour of the youngsters. Parents have also said it is working.

Mary Crawley, mentoring project spokeswoman, said: "Although it is early days yet for this scheme, there has been some positive feedback already from young people."

Parents are also enrolled on courses designed to help them take more responsibility for their children. They will be working on issues such as the needs of teenagers, positive parenting, communication skills and managing conflict.

The Hartbeat project is part of a Government scheme to prevent youngsters embarking on a life of crime and unemployment.

Mentoring and parenting has won praise after a visit by Crime Concern, consultants appointed by the youth justice board to support mentoring projects nationally.

Its work builds on that carried out after youngsters were given police cautions for first offences.

Anyone wanting to become a mentor or to attend the courses should contact (01429) 271571.