A befriending group for troubled teenagers is in line for a series of boosts.

The Harwich branch of Teen Talk, a confidential listening service for teenagers, is preparing for a range of exciting projects and facilities.

Within the last year, Teen Talk has moved to larger premises in Cliff Road, Dovercourt, and it is hoped possible new funds, totalling £65,000, will expand the service further.

Marian Rowland, Teen Talk co-ordinator, said the group was looking into a transport project to ferry young people to and from the centre.

She said: We are hoping, if funding is available, to have transport for young people from rural areas to enable them to visit the centre.

"We would also be able to visit them, if necessary, as well. With the new transport and the Clacton centre we would cover every village and town in Tendring."

She added that Harwich Teen Talk also had responsibility for towns and villages like Manningtree and Lawford and the service would include them.

Funding could be made available through the Connexions scheme and would make use of the Tendring community transport minibuses.

Teen talk has also applied for funding from Connexions to set up a do-it-yourself project to teach youngsters basic skills like electronics, cookery and filling in forms.

By Rachel Fitch

Reporter's e-mail: rachel_fitch@thisisessex.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.