AN East Lancashire substance abuse charity is desperate for volunteers.

Early Break, a Nelson-based Young Person’s Drug and Alcohol Charity offering support for adults up to the age of 21, is struggling to find helpers despite appeals on the internet.

Now it is staging two events on Friday, June 22, asking for anyone who has worked with abusers to step forward to help.

Jacqui Selby, training and marketing development worker, said: "At any given time, we have more than 600 young people and their families in service and we help young people up to the age of 21 in east Lancashire.

"We pride ourselves in not having a waiting list. All young people referred into Early Break have contact made from a worker within 24 hours.

"We are currently celebrating our 21st year in service this year having started out as a helpline in a garden shed all those years ago in 1994.

"We would like to give local people in Nelson an opportunity to come and volunteer with us and become part of our extended family.

"There are lots of opportunities to get involved with such as helping at events, distributing collection tubs and as a volunteer outreach worker, giving young people help and advice about substance misuse.

"All we ask is that they are over 21, have a few hours to spare and have a desire to help young people."

The volunteer events are from 2pm-4pm and from 5pm-7pm and anyone with a few hours to spare every week can register their interest by calling Olivia in Nelson on 01282 604022.