A national children's charity is appealing for volunteers to come forward to befriend Swindon youngsters in social services care.

The adults are needed to form long-term relationships with the children in an attempt to bring some form of stability to their lives.

Spurgeon's Child Care has run the scheme successfully in other parts of the country and has now obtained funding from Swindon Council to launch it here.

It is aimed at helping children who, for a variety of reasons, have little or no contact with their families and have experienced disruption in their young lives.

The youngsters are usually aged between eight and 16 and, while many will have difficult issues to confront, they are often simply victims of circumstance in need of a reliable friend.

The work of the volunteers will be completely independent of the social services department and it is hoped that over time they will be able to share hobbies and interests with the children.

Heidi Sydor, project manager for the charity, said the £18,000 a year funding over three years would be enough to set up befriending programmes for 17 children in the borough.

"The need is much greater than that," she explained.

"But it is all the funding allows and it is a starting point. Depending on the success of the scheme the funding could be increased in future."

She said the charity has already received seven requests for information packs on the scheme, but far more people are needed.

The intention is to build up a large training period, during which time the charity will check out the volunteer's background and references.

The applicants will then be interviewed by a panel which will decide whether the person is suitable or not.

The minimum commitment expected of a volunteer is to spend two to three hours with the child every fortnight, although it is hoped a closer relationship will develop.

"It's not going to be an easy job and people will have to realise that they won't be allowed to just drop in and out of these children's lives," said Heidi.

"These are children who are in long-term social services care, either in residential homes or foster homes, and we are looking for the relationships to last at least three years, but hopefully for life."

Training of volunteers is likely to begin in the New Year and the scheme is hoped to be underway by next spring, but recruitment will be a continual process. Ongoing support and expenses will be provided.

Anyone interested in taking part should call Heidi on Swindon 615049.