TWENTY projects linking disaffected youngsters with adult mentors are to receive Pounds 143,440 in Government grants. A further project in South Wales - which is helping to ease primary-secondary transfer - will receive Pounds 7,200 from the Welsh Office.
Around a third of the projects target disaffected or under-achieving pupils and the rest cater for youngsters with special needs or from ethnic minorities.
Announcing the grants - part of the National Mentoring Bursary Programme - schools minister Charles Clarke said mentoring can be of tremendous help and support for youngsters.