MENTORING offered at The Door Youth Project has been secured for the next three years thanks to a near £27,000 grant.

The popular counselling work with teenagers at the Christian-based charity in Gloucester Street, Stroud, will be expanded and a new family support service launched with the funding received from Provident Financial.

"The Door is celebrating. The new service will support parents of teenagers," said Door project co-ordinator Brendan Conboy. "It is absolutely fantastic to be able to offer a specialised support service for parents of teenagers. This grant will, quite simply, change lives.

"The demand for this level of support is currently very high. Every week the project receives a cry for help from a parent in need. These parents have not been turned away, they have either been signposted to another agency or received help through The Door's existing services."

Provident Financial's Good Neighbour Programme gave the money.

Provident's community affairs manager Brent Shackleton said the financial services provider was delighted to be working in partnership with The Door.

"The new family support service will help to create a brighter future for the local area," he said.

Once a family support team leader is in place The Door will recruit a team of up to 30 volunteer family support workers.