Almost 1800 council workers are to be recruited to help improve the life chances of vulnerable children and young people in Glasgow.

The voluntary mentoring programme hopes to attract at least 10% of the city's local authority workforce to provide guidance and support to help youngsters achieve their ambitions.

Organisers hope the volunteers will become trusted confidantes and personal mentors to the city's vulnerable children.

The project aims to have 1000 active mentors in place in the city's secondary schools by December 2018.

Council chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell said: "All our young people deserve the very best we can offer, regardless of their personal circumstances or background.  This project is not a one-off but a long-term commitment for us.

"We're asking staff to consider committing to one hour a week over two school years to be part of this amazing initiative.

"The rewards are plenty but it's also about staff development as well as the obvious benefits to the young person."

In 2015/16, the authority said the return to school rate for S5 mentored young people across six schools was 87%, compared to 31% of non-mentored pupils.

Meanwhile, 73% of mentored school leavers went on to further or higher education and employment in 2015, compared to the national average of 51%.

The project is being supported by mentoring organisation MCR Pathways, the Robertson Trust, the STV Appeal and the Life Changes Trust.

Iain MacRitchie, MCR Pathways founder, said: "This profound commitment by the council really is a national and perhaps international first and major precedent.

"It is truly pioneering in every way and gives us a fantastic opportunity to provide every disadvantaged young person with the one to one relationship based support they need to flourish through school.

"It is hugely humbling and very motivating to see people making Glasgow at this scale. It's not volunteering - it is just our great city taking care of our own."