A mentoring scheme which aims to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds find work in the City has been handed a £10,000 grant by Boris Johnson.

Volunteering organisation Timebank’s City Opportunities project is aimed at helping youngsters from deprived areas such as Tower Hamlets find work in the capital’s financial district.

The programme focuses on young people from boroughs which border the City of London. It matches professionals who work there with youngsters who have been in care and are aged between 16 and 24, and is one of 10 projects to receive cash from City Hall. London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “It’s fantastic that City workers are giving up their time to help young people boost their self-confidence and gain the skills they need to access education and jobs.”