Express & Star

Street launches Mayor's mentors scheme

More than 1,000 ‘Mayor’s Mentors’ will be recruited from across the West Midlands business community to tackle youth unemployment, as part of an initiative launched today.

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Andy Street

The Mayor’s Mentors scheme is one of the first programmes set up by the new Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street.

It aims to recruit professionals from a variety of sectors and backgrounds to be matched to young people and serve as mentors.

They will offer support and guidance to young people either starting out in the world of work or setting up their own business.

It forms part of the commitment by the Mayor to support entrepreneurship and eradicate youth unemployment by 2020.

In the West Midlands there are 13,650 people aged 18-24 out of work and not in training, with 1,380 in Dudley, 1,510 in Sandwell, 1,165 in Walsall and 1,525 in Wolverhampton.

Mr Street said: “Lots of members of the business community have been saying to me that they want to play their part in tackling youth unemployment, give something back and assist in the ongoing success of the region.

“Mayor’s Mentors is a great opportunity to do just that."

To sign up as a Mayor’s Mentor, visit www.wmca.org.uk/mayorsmentors