There are nearly 200,000 young people in the Midlands and nearly 81,000 in the South West aged between 16 -19 years who are not in employment, full time education or training. Many of these youngsters stay at home and do very little to contribute to their local community. If fact, faced with boredom, some unfortunately turn to crime.

Bill feels so passionately about Game On! that he is cycling over 1,200 miles this summer covering the UK from side to side and from end to end to celebrate his 50th birthday and dedicating all the funds raised to help launch Game On! in Northampton, Bath, Bristol and Warrington. He has already completed the 330 gruelling miles from Lands End to Twickenham on the TNT Great British Bike Ride with rugby's Raging Bull, Phil Vickery and BBC legend John Inverdale and will be attempting the John O' Groats to Lands End trip in August.

Game On! is a programme developed by Wooden Spoon in association with Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby Club and Warrington Wolves aimed at engaging young people in the game of rugby, focussing their frustration and aggression while instilling the rugby values of discipline, teamwork and respect. During this engagement Wooden Spoon, assisted by local education providers, help raise the individual participant's capability to perform at employment interviews or help them decide on further education to increase their prospects of employment. In the final part of the project, Wooden Spoon works with local employers to create apprenticeships and interim employment opportunities to give these young people their first start in life.

However, all this costs money and Wooden Spoon needs to raise £1,500 per individual on the programme. The good news is that if Wooden Spoon can raise £1,500 in private sector funding the government through its educational agencies can contribute a further £4,800 towards the provision of the education syllabus.

Bill Hill, CEO at Wooden Spoon said, "Not only do we get a huge buzz if we can help get somebody their first start in life but every person we can get into full time employment has a potential long term saving to society of about £100,000… so its well worth the effort and everybody wins!"

Wooden Spoon intends to launch Game On! in Northampton, Bath, Bristol and Warrington this September but to do so they need to raise £180,000 to kick start the 3 year project.

If you would like to help Bill and Wooden Spoon on this quest to help the youngsters in your area simply donate to his JustGiving website. www.justgiving.com/billsbig50 or to donate £10 text the message BILL50 £10 to 70070 every penny of your donation will go straight towards the project!

If you are a large employer in the area and this programme fits your CSR agenda why not discuss with Wooden Spoon to become a private sector sponsor of the programme. Simply email bill.hill@woodenspoon.com.