Volunteer businessmen and women are needed to help disadvantaged young people get into work.

The Prince's Trust in East Sussex is asking for companies to use their skills and experience to become business mentors.

The trust's business programme helps 18 to 30-year-olds, most of whom are unemployed, start their own businesses by offering low interest loans and grants.

It also provides continued support for the first three years of trading by assigning a volunteer business mentor who gives regular advice.

Volunteers interested in becoming a mentor will be asked to give up a few hours a month to share business knowledge and skills with one or more young people.

Don Barratt, 55, from Eastbourne, has helped 18 different businesses during the past five years.

He said: "My full-time job allows me to make a difference and I wanted to continue this and help young people.

"I have found the mentoring experience really rewarding and it is a real buzz to see a young person do well."

The trust has a high business start-up success rate in East Sussex with more than 60 per cent of companies still trading into their third year.

For more details call 01273 723399.