A school mentoring scheme that offers students alternative role models is hoping to have more than 100 successful relationships in existence by the end of this year.

YouthNet, which pairs adults up with students at CedarBridge Academy, Berkeley Institute and Dellwood Middle School during lunch hour breaks, is hoping to raise awareness of its programme.

Executive Director Clare Mello said the project began in 1995, and right now there were 69 partnerships on-going. But she said with more children requesting a mentor, it was likely more adults would be needed.

She said: "It's National Mentoring Month in the US, so we would like to take this opportunity to raise awareness of YouthNet, and the kinds of mentoring that are happening.

"YouthNet is school-based. If anyone is interested in joining us, they can certainly give us a call. Anybody can be a mentor. If people are willing to spend one hour a week with a child in school, and are interested, and care about what happens to our youth in Bermuda, they can take part.

"It's simply an opportunity for positive role models to spend some one on one time with students who may need it. We can really see the positive affects they have."

Ms Mello said it was estimated that about 15 percent of pupils in the public school system could benefit from a mentor, which was about 300 students.

However, she said everyone who wishes to become a mentor, must be screened through Police checks interviewed by YouthNet and undergo training.YouthNet statistics show that 95 percent of their partnerships were successful last year, with 90 percent continuing into a second year.

They resulted in a 52 percent improvement in school attendance, a 66 percent improvement in social interaction and huge increases in self-esteem and academic performance.