Teenagers put the school summer break to good use

The projects are part of the National Citizens Service scheme, which has seen more than 200,000 teenagers take part across the country so far.

The scheme takes place over four weeks of the school summer break and sees 15 to 17-year-olds undergo two weeks of residential trips, followed by a fortnight of devising and carrying out a social action project.

Yesterday a group that is taking part in the scheme in Fareham, which is run by Personal Best Education, held a fundraising fete at Portchester Community Centre.

The day saw games, raffles and activities take place at the centre, in Westlands Grove, in aid of Autism Hampshire.

Team member Katie Kemish, 16, from Wecock Farm, said: ‘It’s been great. I want to come back next year and volunteer as a leader.

‘It was great fun on week one and two, and we all got to know each other and got close as a group.

‘We learnt life skills that will help us in our future careers, Last week was stressful with all the planning, and we had a few arguments, but I would definitely recommend it for people thinking about doing it.’

Elsewhere a group completed an eight-hour rowathon in aid of Help 4 Special Children, a Cosham charity, on Monday.

The teenagers took it in turns to row for 15 minutes each on equipment set up in Tesco in Fratton.

Team member Megan Ashby, 16, from Bedhampton, said: ‘It was really good, we raised more than £225 from bucket donations. Everyone had blisters by the end, I got four blisters.’

They raised more than £225, which will go towards renovating Cosham Community Centre. The group is holding a fundraising fete tomorrow from 10am until 4pm at Cosham Community centre, in Wootton Street.

Megan added: ‘The first few weeks were the most fun, we got to enjoy ourselves, but now it has got harder and we have got to see who can work in a team and who is good leader, although we are enjoying it. I am sad that it is nearly over. I don’t want it to end.’

Clare Darlow, NCS social action officer from Pompey in the Community, which is organising the Portsmouth scheme, said: ‘It has been very busy and it has gone very well.

‘I was particularly impressed by a team who are restoring the gardens at Oakland Grange care home in Southsea. I visited them yesterday and it was raining but they were still working hard.

‘That’s what NCS is about, you wouldn’t normally see a bunch of teenagers spending their summer holiday doing gardening in the rain.’

For more go to ncsyes.co.uk/