Bristol Rovers are helping to teach a group of youngsters from the Prince's Trust all about teamwork.

The club's community department have become the main sponsors for Team 166 – a group of around a dozen youngsters from the Bristol area taking part in the Prince's Trust Volunteer Programme – and will work alongside them on a team-building exercise, which will run until mid-December.

The aim is to help the youngsters find their way into work, education or training and deal with the demands they will face in their chosen sphere.

Bristol Rovers' community officer Peter Aitken said: "Football develops skills such as confidence, teamwork, communication and discipline – all qualities which are also required in the world of work.

"We work closely with The Prince's Trust Team Programme, which is delivered locally by City of Bristol College.

"We offer support including work placements, stadium tours, match tickets, personal development workshops, fundraising challenges and presentation venues.

"In November last year, our community department delivered a 'Get Started with Football' programme in partnership with The Prince's Trust and Ashfield Young Offenders Institute.

"Get Started is a short, flexible programme using a theme which is attractive to young people – such as sport or the arts – to inspire them to take the first step to increase their confidence, skills and employability.

"The youngsters involved with us worked with our community staff and successfully completed an FA Level One coaching certificate."

The Prince of Wales' charity has helped more than 575,000 young people since 1976 and supports 100 more each day. More than 75 per cent of them move into work, education or training. Rovers have been working with the Trust through their Football Initiative since 2002.