VOLUNTEER mentors are to be presented with certificates by the mayor of Swindon, after completing a course allowing them to support vulnerable youngsters.

The 14-strong team spent a night each week, over the last six weeks, developing the skills to guide young people through the Swindon Mentoring and Self Help project (Smash).

And on Saturday they will be collecting their awards from Mayor Derek Benfield at the Civic Offices.

Smash is a youth project funded by the European Social Fund and local businesses and aims to support youngsters aged 13 to 18 by providing vocational experience and training to increase their chance of employment.

Youngsters, who are mainly referred to the project by social services, can learn diverse skills such as car maintenance, video making, football coaching and kick boxing.