The only charity supporting teachers in Wales has launched a new project to recruit local ambassadors to help improve the health and wellbeing of teaching staff. Teacher Support Cymru (TSC) is looking to find a range of volunteers throughout Wales to help raise awareness of the charity and the issues that teachers face on a day-to-day basis.

"It is a very important time in education in Wales: the introduction and development of the School Effectiveness Framework and the Common Inspection Framework both with the emphasis on raising standards and improving education across Wales, budgetary pressures and in many authorities, school reorganisation issues," explains Jayne Davies, TSC's Volunteer Coordinator. "These changes and challenges will undoubtedly make demands upon teachers. Teacher Support Cymru, through its work and hopefully with its volunteers will be able to provide teachers with the necessary support that they will need as we move through this educational 'transformation' agenda."

It is hoped that the volunteers will bring a range of skills, knowledge and experience. Duties will include meeting teachers, distributing leaflets, attending events and running local focus groups.

The new scheme comes at a critical time for teachers in Wales, after Welsh teenagers were found to be underperforming their international counterparts in last year's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey. Last week, the Viv Thomas review of Welsh education warned of a 'downward spiral'.

Teacher Support Cymru provides free confidential, bilingual support, advice and counselling to newly qualified, retired , unemployed, serving or supply teachers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

For more information on volunteering for Teacher Support Cymru, call 01443 827634 or email: jayne.davies@teachersupport.info