A charity based in mid-Somerset which has helped tens of thousands of young people onto their chosen career paths has launched a new initiative.

The Volunteer Network first began in the Mendips in 1999 as a pilot scheme to encourage young people to gain more skills and make themselves more employable.

Under the watchful eye of Scott McMillan, the Volunteering Network extended across the county and even outside Somerset and last year alone helped 3,500 young people.

Now the Volunteer Network – with Scott McMillan as chief executive officer – has launched a new county-wide project to provide support and training to young people.

With almost £500,000 Big Lottery grants, as well as funding from Lloyds TSB Foundation as well as contract funding from Somerset Skills and Learning and the Skills Funding Agency, the reAction project will help young people who are either unemployed, homeless or living in rural isolation.

The project will provide the opportunity for 2,400 young people to develop skills and boost their confidence through periods of supported volunteering as well as offering more targeted support such as training in job seeking skills or access to information about housing or money management.

The project was launched last week at the Volunteer Network's Big Somerset meeting which was attended by workers from 16 organisations including Net Buddies, Transition Glastonbury, People Can, National Trust, Raising Your Game, Samaritans, Alzheimer's Society, Red Cross, Churches Together and Inspired to Achieve.

These organisations are among the many partners who work along side staff at the Volunteer Network to provide placements for young people being supported by the project.

Scott said the reAction project will target 24 different communities over a five year period, starting with Wells, Street and Glastonbury.

"The project will go out on the road through the use of a community bus which will provide a mobile information and support centre to the harder to reach areas of the county," he said.

"The bus has been funded by a capital grant from The Tudor Trust.

"The idea behind the community bus is that there are areas of Somerset where it is really hard for people to access services and advice, rather than insisting that individuals from these communities travel to into the town to see us we'll be taking our services out to them.

"We can help young people to be the best they can be."

The bus will get its first outing on Wednesday, February 29 in Wells High Street and initially it is planned to be in Wells every Wednesday for four weeks.

Once it has moved on there will still be support workers based in each community.

Scott said: "Our target group is 16 to 20-year-olds however we will not turn anyone away. If a 70-year-old comes to us seeking help to volunteer, we will be there for them."

For more information phone 01458 836130 or email info@volunteernet work.org.uk.