VOLUNTEERS have until Monday to sign up for the latest Teen Talk training scheme.

Teen Talk’s Youth Volunteer Programme is open to 18 to 25-year-olds and offers training to develop skills and knowledge for a career working with children.

The initial training takes place over three hours per week for four weeks, covering topics such as safeguarding, professional boundaries and confidentiality, as well as getting hands on experience supporting young people as part of Teen Talk’s Life Skills project activities.

Youth volunteer, Katie Smith, who has completed the training said: “It is a really fun experience and it lets you build on your knowledge of young people.

“It has been a really fun summer and I can’t wait to get involved with more volunteering for Teen Talk.”

Support worker Adrian Davis said: “Teen Talk’s youth volunteering programme is a great opportunity for young people wanting to start a career in teaching, youth work, child minding or social care to gain some real hands-on experience of working with children in a really supportive environment.”

The volunteering programme was made possible after a one-year grant from the Crix Charitable Fund, Yellow Car Charitable Fund and the Essex Millennium Fund from Essex Community Foundation. To register, call Mr Adrian Davis on 01255 504800 or teentalkadrian@hotmail.com.