A community mentoring project is helping to steer young offenders in the Bradford district away from a life of crime.

The Community Remands Project is one of only four pilot initiatives in the country offering support to local Youth Courts.

The two-year project, funded by the National Lottery, is run by the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO).

By working with young offenders on bail NACRO offers the courts in Bradford, Bingley and Keighley an alternative to remanding youngsters in custody.

Project co-ordinator Jim Brady said: "In the past young offenders have been locked up, put in care or released on bail without any support. We offer the courts another option."

The programme of support looks at the offenders' behaviour, family and relationships, education and training, health and welfare, accommodation and leisure.

Launched earlier this year, one of the project's great successes has been its volunteer adult mentoring scheme.

Volunteers act as role models for young offenders on bail and provide regular support. The scheme has 12 adult mentors, but has been inundated with volunteers and has drawn up a reserve list of mentors.

One of the mentors is Bradford businessman Brian Goodall.

Mr Brady explained: "He has timetables for about ten young offenders listing their appointments with courts, probation officers, housing, benefits staff and so on.

"His task is to ring round the offenders, making sure they know where they're supposed to be on what date. It's a valuable contribution which he fits into a busy work schedule."

The project works in partnership with 30 other agencies, including the Bridge drug rehabilitation project and multi-agency Bradford and District Youth Offending Team.

Youth Offending Team manager Paul O'Hara said: "We encourage referrals to the project.

"When young offenders who are working with YOT staff are sentenced the two organisations can share information and good practice."

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