AN advice service has been launched to offer support to a town's young people.

Children's welfare charity Barnardo's is launching the service in Middlesbrough.

The Middlesbrough Independence Network (Min) will support vulnerable young people aged 16 and over, by helping the homeless find accommodation as well as providing information on benefits, health and community services, education, training and employment opportunities.

Min, which is based in the town's Park Road, will also work with a number of specialist agencies to refer youngsters needing help with problems such as alcohol and drugs misuse.

"This is a service where young people can get all the help they need in one place," said Jason Griffiths, the Barnardo's worker co-ordinating the service.

"It is not just for those leaving care but for any young person who might be slipping through the net without any support.

"The service is operating as a one stop drop-in for any vulnerable young person who is having difficulties or needs help accessing services or education or training. They might have been excluded from school in the past, they might be care leavers or they might have been homeless.''

Min is not only offering support and advice. It wants young people to sign up for a variety of activities ranging from football, to whitewater rafting, hill walking, discussion groups and cooking.

Mr Griffiths said: "We are making the building as young person friendly as possible and involving groups of young people in helping with that. We're also working on the garden to improve the look of the area around the building and some of the young people are helping out there as well.

We want young people to feel comfortable coming to the building and to use all the services we have to offer them."

Min will work on the project with social services, the youth offending team, Connexions, health, education and other agencies working with young people.

Call Middlesbrough Independence Network, at 3 Park Road, on (01642) 354119.