A scheme that allows social work students to gain first hand experience working with vulnerable young people, is to be rolled out across the UK.

The Prince's Trust Working for Wellbeing pilot scheme gives those training to become a qualified social worker, the opportunity to complete an up to 80 day work placement as part of the charity's 12 week personal development scheme for disadvantaged young people.

Funded by the Zurich Community Trust, the Working for Wellbeing scheme aims to improve the emotional wellbeing of the young people that are enrolled on the Prince's Trust's Team Programme. The project also aims to help those in social work jobs understand mental health issues and how to handle them. According to Children and Young People Now, 44 student wellbeing support workers have been enrolled on the programme.

Ginny Lunn the director of policy and innovation at the Prince's Trust said: "The young people we support often have difficult backgrounds or suffer symptoms of long-term unemployment - from depression and anxiety to a debilitating lack of confidence. Not only will young people receive more intensive emotional support on Team, but the partnership is also bridging the gap between the hardest-to-reach young people and a new generation of social workers."

Jodie Chambers is a social work student who has participated in the scheme. The 28 year old added: "In conjunction with my placement, I attended a two-day mental health and first aid course which teaches social work students and Prince's Trust staff to recognise the symptoms of mental health problems and how to provide initial help."

"The placement gave be a real confidence boost. Being on Team as a student social worker has developed me both personally and professionally," she added.