A 20-YEAR-OLD is off to Borneo as he looks to build a brighter future.

Dylan Hudson has struggled with alcohol and has had other problems to get over but is off on a charity trip after working with mentors to turn his life around in a new scheme.

Dylan has been living at The Y Centre in Albion Way, Horsham, for six months and said working with a mentor has changed his fortunes.

With help from the Positive Placements scheme the 20-year-old has been accepted for a volunteer expedition with charity Raleigh International and is fundraising £800 to spend ten weeks working with them in Borneo.

He was invited to talk to mentors as part of their training programme.

He said: “It’s great having someone to talk to who listens to me and supports me in achieving my goals.

“My mentor sees me once a week and we are looking at my choices of full-time work when I get back from the expedition.”

The Positive Placements scheme is aimed at helping youngsters to find jobs and get back into education.

Hove-based YMCA Downslink Group is encouraging struggling youngsters to get on the career ladder and broaden their horizons with training, education and courses.

Their scheme has now expanded in Brighton and Hove and Mid Sussex after it successfully launched in Horsham.

The group is on the lookout for volunteers to train to act as mentors who will help people aged 16 to 25 overcome low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, as well as assisting with work experience and preparation for interviews.

Support will be made available from a mentor for a year and young people can visit the project of their own accord.

The project is hoping to expand further into other areas. Businesses are being invited to offer work experience, apprenticeships or employment opportunities.

Positive Placements would offer full support to the businesses in setting up the apprenticeships.

Project coordinator Gemma Doughty said: “We will be working with adult mentors from a wide variety of backgrounds to help Brighton’s most vulnerable 16 to 25-year-olds move forward on their work journey.”

Factfile

WHAT you need to know if you are interested in taking part:

  • Anyone interested in becoming a mentor for the Department of Work and Pensions-backed scheme should be free to commit to the project for one to two hours a week for at least six months;
  • Full training and ongoing support is offered, and all volunteers will need to take part in a Disclosure and Barring Service check that will be paid for by the project;
  • No experience is needed but passion, patience and a sense of humour are welcome attributes;
  • For information email Gemma.Doughty@ymcadlg.org