A Lancing man has taken a break from the nine-to-five office routine to help

vulnerable young people in Sussex.

Bob Eyre left his job at the American Express training department in Brighton last December to take up a six-month sabbatical working on YMCA projects.

He said: "I had to look at my own skills and experience and the words 'old' and 'parent' came to mind.

"The Business Community Partnership came up with a number of options that suited my experience and skills and I went to see a few different projects in Brighton but the YMCA one stood out as somewhere I could make a real contribution."

Mr Eyre works three days a week at Hove YMCA, which offers supported housing to 15 young people between the ages of 16 and 24.

He said: "For one reason or other, most of them can't live at home and are missing guidance at a very important time of their lives.

"The aim is after nine months in the hostel the residents can move into independent accommodation or accommodation with less support.

"Even in the short time I've been there, it has been amazing to see these young lives turned around from problem child to citizen."

The other two days of the week Mr Eyre works at the Youth Advice Centre in Blatchington Road, Hove.

The centre offers advice to 16 to 24-year-olds on drugs, housing, employment and sexual problems.

As part of his work for the advice centre, Mr Eyre visits Lewes Prison Young Offenders' Institute one day a week.

He said: "I talk to inmates about housing and job problems when they are released.

"The aim is to make sure they have somewhere secure and stable to live.

"This will hopefully help them turn away from a criminal lifestyle in future.

"Many of the residents and prison inmates I've met have tremendous potential but through circumstances beyond their control they have slipped through the system of education and support. The work is challenging but incredibly rewarding.

"I've great admiration for all YMCA staff, who do such an important job to improve the lives of so many young people."