I AM one of the volunteers at the Smash Youth Project who believes in investing time and effort to mentor young persons, who may be facing a problem coping with life.

The funding is running out and we may have to close at the end of May when it runs out.

Surely it is better to invest in this type of project which is cost effective as it utilises the free services of volunteers backed up by dedicated, experienced teams of professionals, than to have to utilise the new powers like ASBOs which can be used after young persons have become anti social and are a real nuisance?

The demands on funds are heavy, but we can all do out bit for our society as long as there are the professionals to guide and train us.

Young persons do need support and someone to walk beside them as they reach independence and start to make decisions for themselves. As a mentor we do not come with any agenda, we are not teachers whose priority is to make them pass exams, or a parent who has massive emotional ties and the job of setting boundaries.

LINDA YAVUZ

Westlea