A competition for young people to win exciting prizes by making a difference in their community has been launched for the second year running.

The Lifestyle competition is open to school children aged between 10 and 16 across York and North Yorkshire who want to do something positive for their community during the summer holidays.

In return for helping their community, contestants will get the chance to win a host of prizes including PLG adventure holidays and mountain bikes.

Last year’s winners include Team Community Spirit who raised funds for their local boxing club in Acomb, The Green Team who launched a campaign to re-use and recycle in York, Team Ice who organised the clean up of their local park in Sherburn in Elmet and Eastfield Youth Council from the Scarborough area who cleaned up The Dell and devised a campaign to encourage people not to drop litter.

This year’s project was launched at Westfield Primary School in York with the help of Minster FM’s presenter “Griffo”.

 

A video featuring Griffo has been produced to showcase some of the inspiring projects delivered by young people during last year’s project.

PC Suzanne Asquith who leads the Lifestyle project for North Yorkshire Police, said: “Lifestyle is a fantastic opportunity for young people to be engaged in something positive and worthwhile over the long summer holidays.

“As well keeping them occupied, it teaches them valuable life skills and brings hundreds of hours of community work to their local areas.

“Last year’s competition was a huge success and saw youngsters team up with their friends to clear green spaces, carry out jobs for their elderly or housebound neighbours, organise a family fun day, devise an anti-theft campaign and lots more.

“This year we want to encourage more young people from right across North Yorkshire – from Skipton to Scarborough and Selby to Stokesley – to enter the competition.”

The scheme was launched for the first time last year thanks to funding from Police and Crime Commissioner, Julia Mulligan’s Community Fund.

Julia Mulligan added: “I was delighted to be able to support this project through my Community Fund, which has so far awarded £250k to 29 local groups, all of whom are helping to make their communities be and feel safer.

“Now in its second year, the Lifestyle project is engaging scores of young people in activities that benefit their communities during school holidays, when reports of antisocial behaviour usually rise.

“It gives young people – some of whom may be drawn into less constructive activities – an opportunity to plan a project and see it through to fruition, which helps raise confidence, promote self-worth and acquire new skills.

“I wish all the contestants this year the best of luck.”

The scheme is being supported by local companies and organisations including the Shepherd Group, Hiscox, East Coast Trains, the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and Safer York Partnership who are all providing company challenges.

These include Hiscox’s Make a dream come true challenge, Shepherd’s Conservation challenge, the NHS’ Be fit, Be healthy challenge, the Greenscene challenge from East Coast Trains, Safer York Partnership’s Safety challenge and The High Sherriff’s Community Arts Challenge.