YOUNG people at risk of not fulfilling their true potential are being offered the chance to take part in a mentoring programme to boost their skills.

More than £220,000 is being invested through the government-backed Careers and Enterprise Company to deliver the project across the Tees Valley.

The fund will focus on students who are about to begin their GCSEs but risk under achieving and falling behind their peers.

The two companies delivering the services in the region are Young Enterprise and RTC North Ltd.

The cash is part of the government’s broader commitment to level up opportunities and create a country that works for everyone.

Claudia Harris, chief executive of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “Too many young people across England are at risk of not achieving their full potential. This can have a lasting impact on their future and career later in life.

“Employer mentoring is a powerful way to address this issue by helping young people get inspired about the world of work.

“Our fund will work to unlock this inspiration by scaling up proven mentoring programmes to help boost social mobility and give young people great life changing experiences.

“I would encourage anyone who wants to get involved in mentoring to step forward and join this mentoring movement and make a real difference to the lives of young people in their local community.”

Research from The Careers and Enterprise Company published last year found young peoples’ level of engagement with education varied significantly by region and showed a clear north/south divide with the most disengaged regions in the north of the country.

In total, the company will distribute funding worth more than £3.5million to 39 mentoring organisations across the country, targeting almost 20,000 students.

Apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon said: “We want a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few. A good mentor can be instrumental in unlocking a young person’s potential and these grants will help more young people benefit from that, ensuring they are climbing the ladder of opportunity and that there is no limit on their ambition.

“Mentoring helps improve focus and attainment, raises aspirations and provides valuable support – especially for those who are underachieving or at risk of dropping out of education.”