Two innovation engineers have become mentors for young people at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).

Mustapha Cham and Sean Kilbride, who work at Drax Power Station near Selby, North Yorkshire, are part of the autumn 2024 cohort of the Diana Award’s mentoring programme.

The Diana Award Mentoring Programme, set up in memory of Princess Diana, offers a 12-week initiative for young people aged 14-18 who are 'at risk of becoming NEET' in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and London.

It provides professional guidance, career skills training, and encourages youth-led social action projects.

For Mr Cham, the programme is a chance to support those in a similar position to himself at Westborough High School in Dewsbury, having moved from The Gambia to Yorkshire at a young age.

He said: "I was born in The Gambia and moved to the UK at 11, starting school halfway through year eight in an environment where I was different from the other students.

"I wanted to be in a school where I could meet young people with similar backgrounds.

"That’s why I wanted to mentor at the school in Dewsbury, which has a lot of diverse pupils from different cultural backgrounds."

Mustapha Cham (Image: Supplied) Mr Cham also spoke about the challenges he faced due to his stammer, adding: "For someone with a stammer, what I always had in my mind when I was younger, was that I wasn't good enough.

"Communication wasn't one of my best skills and therefore I acted in a certain way that made me the scapegoat of our classroom."

Mr Kilbride, another Drax innovation engineer, was motivated to mentor due to his own struggles at school.

He said: "My daughter was diagnosed as dyslexic in 2023 and through this diagnosis it was apparent that I too have the same struggles when it comes processing information such as reading, writing and grammar, something I wish I had known back when I was at school.

"School is something I really struggled with, and I only wish someone would had have told me back then that academic ability isn’t a limiting factor when it comes to having a successful career.

"It’s about honing the skills you do have and making the most of them."

Mr Kilbride has worked across several teams at Drax and is now focused on clean energy and reducing emissions through BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage) and other decarbonisation opportunities.

The mentoring programme offers support for young people at a time when the UK is struggling with social mobility and equality of opportunity.

Research from the Office for National Statistics indicates that there are an estimated 900,000 NEET young people in the UK.

At the end of their first 12-week mentoring programme, both Mr Kilbride and Mr Cham took their mentees on a tour of Drax Power Station.

"The trip to the power station was a great experience for my mentees," said Mr Kilbride.

"I think it is an eye-opener when they can see that they could have a fulfilling career at a place like Drax."