A NEW service has been launched in Swindon to give people aged between 13 and 19 advice on issues ranging from teenage pregnancy to drugs, bullying and choosing a career.

Connexions will give every youngster in the town access to a fully trained personal adviser dealing with complicated life issues.

The adviser will be able to work with all of the services available to teenagers, from the careers service to the police and health authorities.

It means that users will be able to get advice and help without being passed from service to service.

Daniel Rose, the chairman of Swindon Youth Council, is a director of Connexions Swindon and Wiltshire. He said: "I believe Connexions will be a success because it brings together so many different groups that are all trying to make things better for young people."

Funded by a £4.2 million grant from the Government, Connexions aims to place counsellors in every secondary school in the town, as well as at youth and community centres and may even open a drop-in centre in town if the service proves to be a success.

There will be ten full-time personal advisers in Swindon and Wiltshire.

Swindon, which has one of the worst records for teenage pregnancy in the country, is one of the first towns in the country to have the service, with nationwide coverage not expected until April next year.

Some of the organisations already involved with Connexions in Swindon include Swindon Borough Council, the town's schools, voluntary organisations and companies that provide professional training.

Some of the personal advisers will be seconded to agencies such as the youth offending team and drugs groups.

A website is set to go live along with a Connect Up e-card which will be given to all Year 11 pupils and will provide a guide to local services for young people.

Ian Cruise-Taylor, chief executive of Connexions Wiltshire and Swindon said: "The Connexions philosophy puts the young person at the heart of the service.

"We want to ensure that young people have a say in how services are designed and delivered. Through an integrated approach we can provide one point of contact for young people."