In 2005  Bridges Programmes  extended its work in Glasgow with the introduction of a new youth project working with young asylum seekers and refugees including  unaccompanied minors living in the city.

Unaccompanied Minors are young people under 18 are living in Glasgow without any accompanying adult. Some are looking after younger siblings. They are not supported by the National Asylum Support System (NASS) but are the responsibility of Social Services either through the Homelessness Team or the Children's and Family Unit. The pressure on these services is great and so we developed a mentoring programme, a Life Skills Development Course including some employability support and are a number of work based initiatives for those over 16 to help them access work and training, to give them a better start to their adult life.

This programme was originally funded by BBC Children in Need and equal ( a European Social Fund) and is for two years in the first instance  (October 2005 - Sept 2007), and since December 2007 by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund.

The programme is managed by our youth project co-ordinator, Elio Ajmone, elioajmone@bridgesprogrammes.org.uk supported by Tiff Griffin, tigggriffin@bridgesprogrammes.org.uk and we have a team of volunteer mentors who work with our young people .

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer mentor please go to vacancies with us and download the information you require, then contact us for an application form.

Tel.: 0141 445 4464