PLACES are available on a new course for people wanting to volunteer with young people in Middlesbrough.

The new training gets under way on September 9 and is aimed at people wanting to volunteer with 0- to 19-year-olds.

The 10-week course, run by Middlesbrough Council, takes place on Tuesdays in the town hall and is for those who don’t need to attend the preparatory Ready to Volunteer course.

The course begins with five core sessions to equip participants with the skills necessary for volunteering with this age group.

Sharon Barker, the council’s voluntary sector liaison officer, said: “Volunteering can really make a difference, giving those who make the effort good, relevant vocational experience to add to academic qualifications.

“In turn those who volunteer make a great difference to the organisations and people they work with, and stand to gain a great deal as a result of their experience.”

Volunteers will be assigned a placement before embarking on the second five-week training block focusing on either the 0-12 or 13-19 age group.

Applicants will be given an informal interview to determine the route into volunteering that best suits their skills and experience.

The council already has nearly 600 volunteers in its own volunteer support programme - ranging from those who contribute a few hours a month to those volunteering regularly – and is always on the look-out for new recruits.

For further information contact voluntary sector liaison officer Sharon Barker on 01642-729127 or email volunteering@middlesbrough.gov.uk or visit www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/volunteering