Lisa McAlister and Rachel Simpson are both members of South Tyneside Youth Offending Service's Youth Panel.

Together, they help young people back on to the right path and encourage them to put right the harm caused by their crimes.

The pair, from South Shields, have nine years of Youth Panel experience between them and both agree helping youngsters to change their lives for the better is worth giving up their spare time for free.

Ms McAlister said: "I have a young son and there is not a lot for young people.

"I thought everyone deserves a chance – everyone makes mistakes and that's why I decided to do it.

"We will put together a contract with the young person to help prevent them from re-offending.

"We also ask them what they feel about what they have done as well as how they felt at the time.

"A lot of them are quite positive and they are just someone who has made a mistake – a lot of them go on to higher education, training or into employment."

Ms Simpson added: "It is nice to see the young person successfully completing the order, and a lot who do come through here are nice people."

The panels, manned by volunteers, are set up to work with the young offender to put right what they have done wrong through a contract, which could see them helping to clean up their community or carrying out work such as gardening.

They also offer support to the youth by finding out what's going on in their life, to prevent them from re-offending.

Victims are also encouraged to have an input.

The Youth Offending Service is looking for men and women over 18 from every ethnic and social background to help tackle underage crime in the community.

Panel members will be given full training and ongoing support, and it would ideally suit someone who is open-minded and interested in doing voluntary work.

For more information on becoming a panel member, contact Graeme Stobbs on 427 2850, e-mail: graeme.stobbs@southtyneside.gov.uk, or Carol Northey on 427 2850, e-mail: carol.northey@southtyneside.gov.uk.