PUPILS from Bridgemary School in Gosport are getting the benefits of one-to-one mentoring from staff at a leading local company.

Twenty-one employees from Gosport based telecommunications company Uniworld have signed up to become mentors through South East Hampshire Education Business Partnership.

Staff spend an hour every other week in work time helping a youngster aged between 11 and 16.

Jane Ainscough was one of the first Uniworld staff to get involved and is helping 12-year-old aspiring international gymnast Alexander Blake be more productive with his time.

Jane said: "I think I was more nervous and daunted than Alexander at our first session, but it went really well. Alexander identified he needed help juggling schoolwork with his training, while leaving him with some free time to relax.

"We talked about the options open to him and he decided he wanted to plan his time with a diary, so I helped him put this together and keep track of what he's spending his time doing."

Teacher Steve Dalwood is leading the mentoring programme at Bridgemary School and is delighted with its success.

He said: "Of course it's a great way for young people to gain confidence by taking control and making their own

decisions. It's also beneficial for the mentor because it breaks up their working week and they can see a real change in pupils' lives over time."

Uniworld's Jo Hilsden said: "We are a local company and the idea was to put something back into the community. It's an optional activity for staff and I'm really pleased at the take-up. We've had nearly half the workforce volunteer for the mentoring scheme."