Sympathy just isn't enough. Action, we need action!" On went the indignant remonstrations of my friend, a teacher. Why was he so heated? Several of his firstrate students had just lost out on university, were unlikely to find employment and now face uncertainty.

"There's always volunteering," I ventured. "Not the one-off short-term stuff but something structured, focussed and planned, perhaps with particular goals or ambitions in mind." I am funded for just fifteen hours a week so I also need to be focussed. But over the past four years I have developed useful contacts with a lot of charities and not for profit organisations. "I don't have the resources to spoon feed them," I admitted. "There's no need," said my friend. "If you provide initial guidance, information and contacts my well-motivated young people can take it from there." He was adamant - it would be worth it.

The Volunteer Centre offers all young people facing the same challenges as my friend's students an initial meeting. We will provide guidance on how to construct a CV plus a succinct, personal statement, all specially geared towards volunteering. Once emailed back we will proof-read and plan a mutually agreed strategy. I can offer no guarantees, but I guess these young people have already learnt that life's like that.

For more information please ring me, Marion Piggott, at the Volunteer Centre, 01883 344444, email:caterhamvc@ owen29.wanadoo.c o.uk, or visit our website: www.surreycommunity.info /tvsc/. Alternatively, come along and meet us every first Friday of the month in Warlingham Library 10.30 - 11.30 a.m.