A charity that supports vulnerable young people has had an ‘influx’ of demand just months after launching in Slough – leaving it struggling to keep up with demand.

Caudwell Youth helps young people who are facing mental health challenges, have experience of being in care, or are at risk of offending or exploitation by connecting them with volunteer mentors.

It launched in Slough in February – and has already had so many young people referred to it that it urgently needs new volunteers to come forward. Operations director Charlie Dixon-Prior told the Observer: “I knew there would be a demand in Slough.

“Slough is a vibrant and exciting place but there’s also a lot of social disparity. We knew from the other work we’d done in other places our mentoring support would fit nicely with what Slough has.”

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But Charlie said demand on Caudwell’s services is high – after a concoction of the cost of living crisis, the lingering effects of the pandemic and a rise in demand on social services.

The demand comes as early plans suggest Slough Borough Council – also facing increased demand on its services and severe financial difficulty – may look increasingly to charities and other outside organisations to help it support residents.

Charlie said she knows there’s been a ‘huge influx and demand’ on council’s statutory services – those such as social care and homeless prevention they have to provide by law.

“They are also swamped – don’t have the capacity, don’t have the funding,” she said. But she added the same pressures mean ‘charities also can’t find the funding’.

Work to change how Slough Borough Council runs is currently underway. But an update to councillors last month suggested the changes would mean the council would look more to outside organisations, community and voluntary groups to provide services to residents.

A spokesperson for Slough Borough Council said it would share its plans with the public and charities so it can work with them effectively.

The spokesperson said: “We are seeking to look at how we can effectively partner with charities, and understand their pressures and demands from the start.”

Early ‘principles’ behind the changes are sent to be presented to council leaders next month, with a public consultation to follow. The council said: “A theme at both points will be about how to make effective referrals and signposting.”

The council added it was ‘extremely fortunate to have a very active voluntary and community sector in Slough’.

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It said it had invested £2 million into charities via Slough CVS over five years, and £65,000 with Frimley Integrated Care Board this year to support charity and community organisations.

In the meantime Charlie has asked for more people to volunteer as mentors at Caudwell Youth in Slough.

She said a good volunteer is ‘a non-judgemental person who’s willing to give a young person an hour a week – go bowling or have a coffee, normally a fun activity to break down the barriers’.

She added: “We provide all the training and support. Our call to action is to get in touch.”