VICTIMS and offenders are coming face-to-face in a scheme designed to help young offenders reform.

Now, Sunderland's Youth Offending Service (YOS) is seeking to recruit more community-spirited people to its panel of volunteers who help draw up referral orders issued by courts against first-time offenders.

The move is aimed at offering offenders the opportunity to put right the damage they have done against victims and the community, at the same time steering them away from a life of crime.

The referral order system gives victims the chance to meet the person who committed the offence against them and become involved in their rehabilitation.

Victims are able to help determine what kind of reparation work offenders should carry out to right the damage they have caused and to put something back into the community.

The meetings organised through referral orders are also designed to help offenders realise the impact which their actions have had on their victims by hearing them speak about their ordeal.

There are already 28 volunteers working in communities across the city but the YOS needs more to become involved in the work.

Anyone interested in joining is asked to contact Deborah Loraine on 0191-566 3000 or 0191-566 3054.